THE  NEW  MAYOR 

FOUNDED  UPON 


UCCESSFU 


nr^T  TT~*    TV    M    A     XT 

THE  MAN 

OF 

THE  HOUR 


;    I  A* 


BENNETT  GIVES   HORRIGAN  A  FINAL  LESSON  IN  THE 
POWER  OF   MIND   OVER   MATTER.  —  Page  198. 


THE  NEW  MAYOR. 


FOUNDED   UPON 


GEORGE  BROADHURST'S 


SUCCESSFUL    PLAY 


THE    MAN 
THE   HOUR. 


UNDER  THE  DIRECTION  OF 

WM.  A.  BRADY 

AND 

Jos.  R.  GRISMER. 


(Copyright,  1907,  by  GEORGE  BROADHURST.) 


NEW  YORK  : 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
57  HOSE  STREET. 


CONTENTS 


PAGK. 

CHAPTER   I. 

Two  MEN  AND  A  GIRL,    -  5 

CHAPTER   II. 
LOVE  AND  POLITICS,  -        -      24 

CHAPTER  III. 

A  SURPRISE,     -  42 

CHAPTER   IV. 
A  FIGHT  AND  A  VICTORY,  -      62 

CHAPTER  V. 

IN  TROUBLED  WATERS,      -  81 

CHAPTER   VI. 

THE  MAYOR  AND  THE  Boss,      -  90 

CHAPTER  VII. 

A  BROKEN  PROMISE,  -        -        -    103 

CHAPTER   VIII. 
AT  THE  BALL, HI 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

CHAPTEK  IX. 

TEMPTATION,     - 

CHAPTER  X. 

"BACK   FROM   THE   DEAD," 

CHAPTER  XL 

THE  CRUCIAL  TEST, 


CHAPTER  XII. 
A  MIDNIGHT  VISITOR, 


CHAPTER   XIII. 
"!N  THE  DAY  OP  BATTLE,"  •    172 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

LOYE  AND  POLITICS, 

CHAPTER   XV. 

THE  BATTLE  or  WILLS, 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  EAVESDROPPER, 

CHAPTER  XVIL 

VENGEANCE!     -  •    215 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
THE  REWARD,          -  -    226 


CHAPTER  I. 

TWO  MEN  AND  A  GIRL. 

THE  country  house  of  Charles  Wainwright, 
financier,  topped  the  ridge,  overlooking  the 
water,  in  a  climax  of  architectural  hideousness 
and  extravagant  cost.  The  grounds  of  Charles 
Wainwright,  financier,  stretched  out  into 
countless  acres  of  landscape  gardening.  The 
whole  estate  of  Charles  Wainwright,  financier, 
eclipsed  those  of  his  neighbors  in  the  fashion 
able  suburb,  even  as  the  name  of  Charles  Wain 
wright,  financier,  eclipsed  almost  every  other 
in  the  city  world  where  money  ruled  as  undis 
puted  and  absolute  monarch. 

Even  when  he  turned  from  the  bustle  of 
city  and  fellow  money-builders,  and  sought  for 
a  space  the  simple  life  on  his  $2,500,000  coun 
try  place,  with  its  modest  equipment  of  forty- 
one  servants,  Mr.  Wainwright  so  far  carried 

1  6 


6  The  New  Mayor. 

into  the  wilds  the  atmosphere  of  business  and 
the  burden  of  other  men's  wealth  as  to  have  a 
very  complete  little  stockbroker  room  fitted  up 
adjoining  his  big  library,  and  to  keep  a  man 
night  and  day  at  his  private  wire. 

Charles  Wainwright,  financier,  was  a  bach 
elor.  No  obese  or  statuesque  wife  carried 
about  with  her  a  portable  advertisement  of  his 
wealth  in  the  shape  of  fabulously  valuable 
jewels,  or  made  his  name  renowned  in  opera 
box,  Newport  Casino  or  Lenox  cottage.  His 
only  brother  had  died,  years  before,  leaving  a 
mere  beggarly  million  dollars  or  so  and  two 
children  to  divide  it.  These  children — Dallas, 
a  strikingly  pretty  and  still  more  strikingly 
independent  girl  of  twenty- four;  and  Perry, 
a  delightfully  lazy,  lovable  lad  of  twenty-one 
• — lived  with  their  uncle,  who  managed  their 
affairs,  let  them  go  pretty  much  as  they  chose, 
and — as  they  were  more  or  less  ornamental 
and  entertaining  and  decidedly  popular — was 
rather  fond  of  them. 

The  trio  had  passed  a  pleasant,  uneventful 
month  at  the  big  house  on  the  hill  early  in  the 
summer  of  19 — ,  when  a  day  dawned  whereon 
Fate  booked  a  number  of  decidedly  interest 
ing,  fateful  happenings  to  occur. 

Wainwright  himself  was  up  betimes  and  at 
work  in  his  library,  poring  over  market  re- 


The  New  Mayor.  7 

ports,  cipher  telegrams  and  a  dozen  other  de 
tails  of  deals  which  his  simple  life  cult  did  not 
prevent  him  from  operating  at  long  range. 
With  him  was  his  secretary,  Thompson,  a  pal 
lid,  earnest-looking  young  fellow,  whose  un 
obtrusive  efficiency  had  long  since  won  the 
financier's  admiration. 

This  morning  affairs  in  the  financial  world 
had  gone  more  than  ordinarily  to  Mr.  Wain- 
wright's  liking.  Moreover,  a  paragraph  in  one 
of  the  city  papers  that  had  caught  his  eye  had 
set  his  lean  gray  face  to  twitching  with  as 
near  an  approach  to  a  smile  as  the  great  man 
ever  permitted.  Altogether,  he  was  in  an  un- 
wontedly  genial  mood,  and  some  of  his  good 
nature  so  far  expanded  as  to  include  his  busy 
secretary. 

"Thompson,"  he  remarked,  as  the  last  batch 
of  correspondence  was  cleared  away,  "y°u're 
looking  pale.  Do  I  work  you  too  hard?" 

"No,  indeed,  sir,"  replied  the  secretary,  with 
a  promptitude  that  had  something  almost  sla 
vish  in  it. 

"Feeling  all  right?"  went  on  Wainwright- 
"You  need  more  exercise.  Why  don't  you  get 
out  of  doors  oftener?" 

"The  work,  sir- 

"Get  another  man  to  help  you  with  the  tele 
graph  part  of  it,  then.  I : 


8  The  New  Mayor. 

"Thank  you,  sir.  You  are  very  kind  indeed. 
But  if  it's  just  the  same  to  you,  I'd  rather  han 
dle  it  all  myself.  I  hope  the  work's  perfectly 
satisfactory,  sir?" 

"Perfectly,  Thompson.  You're  the  only  em 
ployee  I  have  who  seems  to  love  work  for 
work's  sake.  Seen  anything  of  Mr.  Gibbs  this 
morning?" 

"No,  sir.  I  don't  believe  he's  up  yet.  Com 
ing  by  such  a  late  train  last  night,  you  know, 
sir,  and 

"I  was  up  as  late  as  he  was  and  I  was  at 
work  by  eight.  But  when  a  man  takes  his 
first  holiday  in  six  years,  as  he  is  doing,  I  sup 
pose  oversleeping  is  part  of  the  fun.  There's 
a  man  to  pattern  yourself  after,  Thompson! 
I  remember  when  he  started  out  he  hadn't  a 
penny.  Nothing  but  the  resolve  to  get  money 
and  then  to  get  more  of  it.  And  now  look  at 
him.  At  thirty-five  he's  the  head  of  one  of 
the  busiest  brokerage  houses  in " 

"Good-morning!"  broke  in  a  voice  from  the 
foot  of  the  broad  stairway  across  the  hall. 
"Sorry  to  be  so  late.  Do  you  know  how  the 
market  is?" 

"It's  opened  even  stronger  than  I  hoped," 
said  Wainwright.  "Take  a  look  at  these  des 
patches  and  see  for  yourself.  Had  your  break 
fast?" 


The  New  Mayor.  9 

"Yes,  thanks,"  answered  the  newcomer,  a 
well-groomed,  stockily-built  man,  lounging 
into  the  room  with  a  nod  at  Thompson,  who 
discreetly  withdrew  into  the  adjoining  office. 
"Seems  queer  to  have  a  whole  day  away  from 
the  office.  I  hardly  know  what  to  do  with  so 
much  spare  time." 

"It's  the  every-day  hard  work  that's  put  you 
where  you  are  to-day,  Gibbs,  and  that's  inter 
ested  me  in  you.  For  instance,  that  deal  of 
yours  in  South  Sea  Copper 

"Yet  that  was  the  deal  the  papers  all " 

"All  denounced  you  for?  What  do  you 
care?  You  were  within  the  law.  They've  been 
hammering  me  for  years  and  attributing  all 
sorts  of  low  motives  to  me.  As  long  as  the  law 
doesn't  interfere  I'm  going  to  get  all  I  can. 
So  there  you  are.  So  is  every  sane  man.  As 
long  as  it  can  be  done  without  any  fuss  or 
shouting.  A  mosquito  could  bite  twice  as  often 
if  only  he  didn't  sing  a  song  about  it.  By  the 
way,  have  you  seen  the  papers?" 

"No.    Anything  new?" 

"One  thing,  at  least,  that  ought  to  interest 
you.  Listen  to  this :  'The  engagement  of  the 
niece  of  a  world-celebrated  financier  to  a  prom 
inent  young  broker  is  about  to  be  announced. 
The  young  lady  and  her  brother  are  orphans, 
and  are  not  only  their  famous  uncle's  wards, 


10  The  New  Mayor. 

but  also  the  sole  heirs  to  his  vast  wealth.  They 
are  summering  at  his  magnificent  country 
place,  where  the  fortunate  broker  is  said  to 
spend  every  one  of  the  very  few  moments  left 
vacant  by  his  daring  stock  manipulations.'  No 
mistaking  that,  eh,  Gibbs?" 

"It — it  ought  to  bring  matters  to  a  head,  I 
should  think." 

"It  certainly  should,"  assented  Wainwright. 
"In  fact,  it's  such  an  audacious  master-stroke 
that  I've  a  notion  you  may  possibly  have  been 
at  the  bottom  of  it.  Now  confess.  Weren't 
you?" 

"Well,  of  course  I  didn't  exactly  write  it. 
But- 

"Clever  boy!  Dallas  will  have  to  show  her 
hand  now  or  never.  She's  kept  you  on  the  anx 
ious  seat  too  long  as  it  is.  That's  the  reason 
I  asked  you  up  here  for  the  day.  She  must 
settle  it  to-day  if  I  can  manage  it.  She  knows 
how  anxious  I  am  for  her  to  accept  you." 

"But  I'm  sometimes  afraid  she  doesn't  care 
for  me." 

"Then  make  her  care.  As  long  as  she  cares 
for  no  one  else  you  can  persuade  her  to  be 
lieve  she  adores  you." 

"How  do  you  know?    You're  a  bachelor." 

"Perhaps  that's  how  I  know.  And  she 
doesn't  care  for  any  one  else." 


The  New  Mayor.  11 

"You're  stfre?  There's  Bennett,  for  in 
stance." 

"Alwyn  Bennett?  Why,  absurd!  She's 
known  him  all  her  life.  They're  just  good 
friends,  nothing  more.  He's  our  nearest  neigh 
bor  here  and  it's  only  natural.  Besides,  he 
isn't  the  sort  of  man  she  wants.  He's  an  idler. 
She  likes  men  who  have  made  something  of 
themselves,  like  yourself,  for  instance.  So 
make  yourself  easy  on  that  score.  If  Bennett 
loved  her,  he'd  have  proposed  long  ago." 

"Not  necessarily.  He's  not  a  man  to  get 
started  easily.  But  once  start  him  and— 

"Then  don't  start  him.  Go  in  and  win. 
What  is  it,  Thompson?" 

The  secretary  entered  from  the  office  with  a 
despatch. 

"There's  an  answer,  sir,"  said  he.  "Here's  a 
blank." 

Wainwright  read  the  message,  scribbled  a 
few  lines  and  handed  the  reply  to  the  secretary, 
who  hurried  out  with  it. 

"So  Thompson  is  not  only  a  secretary,  but 
a  telegraph  operator  as  well,"  remarked  Gibbs, 
as  the  clicking  of  a  Morse  instrument  sounded 
from  the  office. 

"He's  everything,"  replied  Wainwright. 
"He's  a  wonder.  He  heard  me  say  I  wished 
I  had  a  good  operator  up  here  whom  I  could 


12  The  New  Mayor. 

trust.  So  without  a  word  to  me  he  goes  and 
learns  telegraphy.  I've  had  him  nine  years 
now  and  tested  and  tempted  him  fifty  ways. 
But  he's  as  true  as  steel.  The  one  employee  I 
ever  had  that  I  could  trust.  By  the  way,  the 
message  he  just  brought  me  ought  to  interest 
you.  It  tells  me  Borough  Street  Railway  stock 
is  offered  now  at  63.  I've  given  orders  for  your 
office  to  take  all  they  can  get  hold  of  at  that 
price — quietly,  and  without  making  any  bids 
or  attracting  attention.  That'll  be  the  biggest 
deal  of  my  career  if  I  can  carry  it  through. 
You  understand  your  part  perfectly?  To  take 
for  yourself  20  per  cent,  of  the  deal,  handle 
the  whole  affair  on  the  floor  and  not  buy  any 
of  the  stock  for  your  own  private  account. 
Stick  to  that  and  there's  just  one  thing  that 
can  possibly  block  us." 

"You  mean  the  defeat  of  the  present  city 
administration  this  fall?" 

"Just  that.  And  I  don't  believe  it  will  be 
beaten.  The  organization's  solid  as  a  rock. 
They  have  the  police,  the  office-holders 
and " 

"But  the  people  at  large?" 

"The  people  at  large  are  sheep  that  like  to 
be  driven  by  the  strongest  shepherd.  If  they 
weren't  they'd  have  broken  loose  a  century  ago 
and  run  the  city  and  the  country  to  suit  them- 


The  New  Mayor.  13 

selves.  Just  now  Dick  Horrigan  happens  to 
be  the  'shepherd'  who  can  make  them  go 
wherever  he  says." 

"Shepherd  and  'crook'  combined,  I  should 
say,"  commented  Gibbs,  chuckling  at  his  own 
feeble  joke. 

"I  wouldn't  let  a  speech  like  that  get  back 
to  Horrigan  if  I  were  you,"  returned  Wain- 
wright,  dryly.  "Your  career  might  suffer. 
Nothing  (except,  maybe,  gratitude)  is  as  bad 
as  humor  for  spoiling  a  man's  chances  in  busi 
ness  or  politics.  A  laugh  costs  more  than  peo 
ple  think.  But,  speaking  of  the  election  this 
fall,  a  reform  wave  or  any  change  of  city  ad 
ministration  would  smash  our  Borough  Street 
Railway  deal.  To  offset  that,  I've  joined 
hands  with  Horrigan.  If  I  can  bring  him  to 
see  things  my  way,  he  shall  have  cash  enough 
to  buy  all  the  honest  voters  he  needs.  He's 
coming  here  this  noon  to  talk  things  over  with 
me.  Phelan's  coming,  too." 

"Phelan?  You  mean  the  Alderman  of  the 
Eighth?  You'll  have  a  pleasant  little  gather 
ing.  Perhaps  you  didn't  know  that  Phelan 
and  Horrigan  have  had  a  row  and " 

"And  that's  why  I'm  bringing  them  togeth 
er  here  to-day.  I  want  to  patch  up  their  quar 
rel  if  I  can.  I  need  them  both.  Phelan's  a 
useful  man." 


14  The  New  Mayor. 

"But  Horrigan  is  boss  of  the  organization. 
If  you  have  him  on  your  side  why  do  you 
bother  about  getting  Phelan  too?" 

"Yes,  Horrigan  is  boss.  He's  fought  his 
way  up  by  bulldog  tactics.  He  has  no  diplo 
macy.  Nothing  but  brute  force.  Now,  Phelan 
has  just  as  much  force  in  his  way,  but  he's  as 
tricky  as  a  fox,  too.  I've  known  him  ever  since 
he  was  Chief  of  Police.  He's  a  dangerous 
man.  If  he's  against  us  he  can  make  trouble. 
I  want  him.  He's— 

"Judge  Newman!"  announced  the  butler. 

A  whimsical  frown  crossed  Wainwright's 
face,  but  cleared  into  a  passably  hospitable  ex 
pression  as  a  little,  gray-haired  man  with  a 
solemn,  weak  face  trotted  pompously  in  on  the 
heels  of  the  butler's  announcement. 

"Good-morning,  Judge,"  said  the  host, 
pleasantly.  "You  don't  know  Mr.  Gibbs,  I 
think,  of  Gibbs,  Norton  &  Co.?  Judge  New 
man  is  my  next  door  neighbor  on  the  left  as 
you  come  from  the  station,  Gibbs.  You  must 
have  noticed  the  place — Queen  Anne  house, 
with " 

"Oh,  he  probably  never  gave  it  a  glance," 
put  in  the  Judge.  "A  mere  cottage,  that's  all. 
When  a  man  with  my  meager  judicial  salary 
has  a  social  position  to  keep  up  and  four  daugh 
ters  that  aren't  married  and — Charles,  you 


The  New  Mayor.  15 

can't  realize  what  it  means  to  have  four  un 
married— 

"No,  I  cannot,"  assented  Waiawright  quick 
ly;  "and  from  present  signs  I'm  not  likely  to. 
I  hope  Mrs.  Newman  is  well?" 

The  little  Judge's  face  grew  doubly  impor 
tant. 

"Extremely  well,  thank  you,"  said  he.  "A 
wonderful  woman!  You've  met  her,  Mr. 
Gibbs?  No?  But  of  course  you  must  have 

heard By  the  way,  Charles,  it  was  she 

who  told  me  to  drop  in  on  you  this  morning. 
You  see — I — she — Mrs.  Newman  is  most  anx 
ious  for  me  to  come  up  for  re-election  this  fall. 
Mr.  Horrigan,  to  whom  I  broached  the  sub 
ject,  doesn't  quite  want  to  have  me  renomi- 
nated.  I  thought  perhaps — as  a  personal  fa 
vor,  to  so  old  a  friend — you  might  say  a  word 
to  Mr.  Horrigan  in  my  behalf." 

"Of  course,  I'll  do  what  little  I  can.  Hor 
rigan  will  be  here  to-day.  Drop  in  a  little  after 
noon  and  I'll  tell  you  how  my  intervention 
turns  out." 

"Oh,  thank  you  so  much!"  cried  the  Judge, 
positively  wriggling  in  his  delight.  "Mrs. 
Newman  will  be  so  pleased.  And — by  the  way, 
won't  you  ask  Perry  why  he  never  comes  over 
to  see  my  daughters?  Please  ask  him  if  he 
won't.  I'm  sure  Mrs.  Newman  would  be  gla<J 


16  The  New  Mayor. 

if  he  did.  Well,  till  afternoon,  then.  Good- 
morning." 

"Queer  little  rat!"  observed  Gibbs,  as  the 
Judge  bowed  himself  out.  "Mrs.  Newman 
must  be  a  marvel  if  all  he  says  is " 

"She  is  a  wonder  as  a  husband-trainer.  She 
tamed  him  so  he  doesn't  know  his  soul's  his 
own.  A  good  little  man  because  he's  never  had 
a  chance  to  be  otherwise.  I'll  speak  to  Hor- 
rigan  about  him,  though.  It's  always  well  to 
have  a  friend  on  the  bench.  One  never  can  tell 
when " 

But  Gibbs  was  not  listening.  His  heavy 
face  had  lighted  with  a  sudden  glow  of  eager 
ness.  Turning  to  note  the  cause,  Wainwright 
saw  his  niece  Dallas  descending  the  stairs.  In 
voluntarily  she  halted  as  she  reached  the 
threshold  and  saw  Gibbs.  Then,  her  sense  of 
hospitality  triumphing  over  impulse,  she  came 
in  and  greeted  her  uncle's  guest  with  some 
show  of  cordiality. 

"Remember,  Dallas,"  said  Wainwright,  as 
he  prepared  to  go  into  his  office,  "Gibbs  is  here 
only  for  the  day.  I  count  on  you  to  make  his 
holiday  as  pleasant  as  you  can."  He  glanced 
covertly  at  Gibbs,  who  had  strolled  to  the  win 
dow.  Then  the  financier  lowered  his  voice  and 
said  rapidly: 

"Please  be  nice  to  Gibbs  for  my  sake,  Dallas. 


BROKER  GIBBS  MAKES    "RATIONAL  LOVE" 
TO  DALLAS.— Page  17. 


The  New  Mayor.  17 

I  do  a  great  deal  for  you,  and  I  don't  often  ask 
anything  in  return." 

He  patted  her  on  the  shoulder  with  a  gesture 
meant  to  be  affectionate,  and  hurried  into  the 
adjoining  office.  Scarcely  had  the  door  closed 
when  Gibbs  turned  from  the  window,  crossed 
the  room  to  where  Dallas  stood,  and,  in  his 
usual  direct  fashion,  asked: 

"You  saw  that— 

"The  article  in  this  morning's  paper?    Yes." 

There  was  no  confusion,  no  embarrassment, 
neither  in  the  clear,  girlish  voice  nor  in  the 
honest,  dark  eyes  that  met  Gibbs's  so  calmly. 
He  went  on  with  a  shade  less  confidence: 

"It  annoys  you?" 

"Very  much  indeed." 

"You  can't  feel  worse  about  it  than  I  do, 
Miss  Wainwright.  I " 

"You  didn't  write  it  yourself,  then?" 

"I?  Of  course  not!  How  could  you 
think " 

"I  didn't.  I  just  wondered.  Please  see  that 
the  rumor  is  denied." 

"Why  should  I?  You  are  going  to  marry 
me  some  day,  aren't  you,  Dallas?" 

"Have  I  ever  given  you  reason  to  think  I 
would?" 

"You  have  let  me  keep  on  coining  to  see 
you.  You  have " 


18  The  New  Mayor. 

"I  have  told  you  that  I  don't  care  for  you 
the  way  you  want  me  to.  I  have  great  admira 
tion  and  respect  for  you,  but  that  is  all.  And 
it  is  not  enough  to  marry  on." 

"It  is  enough  for  me.  If  I  have  your  ad 
miration  and  respect  to  start  on  I'll  soon  make 
you  love  me." 

"You  would  be  satisfied  with  so  little?" 

"Yes.  Knowing  I  could  in  time  win  more. 
You  aren't  the  sort  of  girl  who  could  marry  a 
man  if  she  didn't  respect  him — didn't  admire 
him.  You- 

"Perhaps  I  couldn't  marry  such  a  man.  But 
perhaps  I  couldn't  help  loving  him." 

"Your  chances  for  happiness  would  be  bet 
ter  with  me.  Oh,  Dallas,  you  know  I  love 
you!  You've  kept  me  waiting  so  long!  Is  it 
fair  to  either  of  us?" 

"I  hesitate  because  I  wrant  to  be  fair  to  us 
both.  For  that  reason  I  must  still  ask  you  to 
wait." 

"But  I've  waited  so  long!  Tell  me  one 
thing:  Is  there  any  one  else  that ' 

Steps,  none  too  light,  clattered  down  the 
stairs,  and  into  the  library  bounded  a  lad  in  ten 
nis  flannels.  He  was  tall,  well  set  up  and 
good  to  look  at,  and  seemed  always  to  have 
stepped  directly  from  a  bandbox  and  to  have 


The  New  Mayor.  19 

had  extremely  recent  acquaintance  with  much 
soap  and  water. 

"Hello,  Dallas!"  he  shouted,  encompassing 
his  sister  in  a  bear  hug.  "How  soon  are " 

"Here's  Mr.  Gibbs,  Perry,"  Dallas  remind 
ed  him,  as  she  emerged,  somewhat  crumpled, 
from  the  embrace.  "Have  you— 

The  lad's  manner  underwent  a  lightning  and 
frigid  change. 

"Oh,  good-morning!"  he  grunted,  with  a 
curt  nod  to  the  visitor ;  and  picking  up  a  paper, 
turned  to  the  sporting  sheet,  and  became  im 
mersed  in  its  contents,  oblivious  of  all  else. 

"Mr.  Gibbs  is  only  spending  one  day  with 
us,"  admonished  Dallas,  trying  to  soften  her 
young  brother's  rudeness. 

"Hope  he'll  enjoy  it,"  came  in  absent  tones 
from  the  depths  of  the  paper. 

Gibbs  rose. 

"I'm  going  out  for  a  cigar  on  the  terrace," 
said  he.  "I'll  join  you  a  little  later." 

"Perry!"  scolded  Dallas,  as  soon  as  the 
broker  disappeared  through  the  long  windows, 
"how  could  you  treat  a  guest  of  uncle's  so 
rudely?" 

"I  don't  like  the  fellow.  And  I  don't  like 
what  I  read  in  the  paper  to-day  about  him  and 
you.  Gee!  what  a  measly  paragraph!  It's 
enough  to  make  a  white  man  want  to  dash  out 


20  The  New  Mayor. 

his  brains  with  a  cigarette.  You're  going  to 
deny  it  in  time  for  the  retraction  to  get  into 
to-morrow's  papers,  aren't  you?'" 

"I — I'm  not  quite  sure." 

"Good  Lord!"  gasped  Perry,  slumping 
down  in  the  nearest  chair.  "Are  you  crazy? 
Say,  if  you  are  looking  for  a  real,  good,  ex 
citing  match,  why  don't  you  marry  a  Wall 
Street  Stock  Report.  It'd  be  better'n  Gibbs. 
If  you  marry  him  you'll  only  be  an  'also  ran' 
with  the  ticker-tape  and  the  market  news.  Oh, 
keep  out  of  it,  old  girl.  You  owe  something 
to  your  intelligent  and  distinguished  little 
brother.  If  you've  got  to  commit  matrimony, 
marry  some  one  I  like,  can't  you?" 

"I  haven't  given  him  a  definite  answer  yet," 
admitted  the  girl,  a  little  touched  by  the  real 
feeling  that  underlay  her  brother's  flippant 
words. 

"That's  good  medicine!  Confidence  re 
stored  and  the  run  on  brother's  emotions  is 
checked.  Next  time  you  get  the  marry  bee  I 
have  a  dandy  candidate  to  suggest  for  the  job." 

"Who?"'  laughed  Dallas,  amused  in  spite  of 
herself. 

"Alwyn  Bennett." 

"How  silly!" 

"Not  on  your  life!  Words  of  wisdom  from 
the  young.  That's  what  it  is.  Go  ahead  and 


The  New  Mayor.  21 

marry  Bennett.     Be  a  sport  and  say  'Yes.' 
Why  don't  you  want  to  marry  him?" 

"For  any  one  of  a  million  reasons.  First  of 
all,  he  never  asked  me  to." 

"Maybe  he's  scared  to.  But  if  he  wasn't 
stuck  on  you  he  wouldn't  be  hanging  around 
here  every  day  and  going  everywhere  with  you 
the  way  he  does.  I'll  bet  nine  dollars  he's— 

"Mr.  Bennett!"  the  butler  announced. 

Brother  and  sister  stared  guiltily  at  each 
other. 

"Speaking  of  angels "  muttered  Perry. 

But  Dallas  had  already  turned  to  welcome  the 
visitor. 

Alwyn  Bennett,  at  first  glance,  had  little  to 
distinguish  him  from  the  average  good-look 
ing  young  man  about  town.  But  a  close  ob 
server  would  have  noticed  a  firmness  about  the 
shapely  mouth,  an  honesty  and  strength  of  pur 
pose  about  the  eyes,  a  general  air  of  latent 
power  that  lay  unawakened  beneath  the  jolly, 
purposeless  exterior.  No  crisis  had  yet  called 
forth  any  special  manifestation  of  this  power, 
and  meanwhile  Bennett  was  content  to  loaf 
through  an  existence  that  thus  far  had  been  de 
cidedly  pleasant.  The  only  son  of  a  widowed 
mother  who  advised  and  spoiled  him;  more 
than  comfortably  well-off  from  the  great  for 
tune  amassed  by  his  dead  father;  possessed 


22  The  New  Mayor. 

of  a  social  position  unassailable,  and  equally 
fortunate  in  that  mysterious  quality  that  spells 
popularity — all  these  gifts  had  saved  Alwyn 
Bennett  the  trouble  of  fighting  life's  battle,  or 
showing  what  might  be  within  his  reach. 

"Good  old  Bennett!"  hailed  Perry.  "We 
were  just  talking  about  you." 

"Good!"  answered  Alwyn.  "Anything  is 
better  than  indifference.  What  were  you  say 
ing  about  me?" 

"You  tell  him,  Dallas!"  grinned  the  boy. 

"Be  quiet!"  whispered  his  sister,  flushing 
with  vexation. 

"Then  I'll  tell  for  myself,"  went  on  Perry, 
gleefully.  "I  was  just  asking  her— 

Seeing  the  girl's  confusion,  Bennett  quickly 
changed  the  subject  by  interrupting. 

"My  mother  will  be  over  here  in  a  few  min 
utes,  Dallas.  She  is  bringing  along  a  guest  of 
ours,  who  says  you  and  she  were  chums  at 
school — Miss  Garrison." 

"Cynthia  Garrison?  Oh,  I'll  be  ever  so  glad 
to  see  her  again!  I— 

"I  know  who  she  is,"  cried  Perry,  refusing 
to  be  snubbed.  "They  say  she's  a  gorgeous 
looker.  When  her  kennel  was  under  the  ham 
mer,  I  bought  in  her  two  pet  Boston  terriers, 
Betty  and  Prince.  Maybe  that  won't  make 
me  solid  with  her,  eh?  Well,  I  guess!  All  I 


The  New  Mayor.  28 

ask  is  a  start,  and  you'll  find  a  whole  lot  of 
cripples  slower  than  I'll  be.  If  they're  walk 
ing  over,  I  might  wander  out,  sort  of  aimless- 
like,  and  happen  to  meet  'em.  Maybe  that's 
a  bum  idea?  Good  old  me!" 

Full  of  his  Macchiavellian  scheme,  the  lad 
bolted  through  the  long  window  and  was  gone. 

"Dallas,"  began  Bennett  without  preamble, 
"you  must  surely  know  why  I'm  here  to-day. 
You've  seen  that  paragraph  in  the— 

"I  have  seen  it,"  she  answered,  quietly. 

Taken  aback  by  her  manner,  Bennett  hesi 
tated  an  instant,  then  asked  nervously: 

"The— the  rumor  isn't  true,  Dallas?  Tell 
me  it  isn't." 

"Why  shouldn't  it  be  true?"  she  countered 
perversely,  as  though  not  wholly  sorry  to  wit 
ness  the  new  look  her  words  called  to  his  face. 
The  look  deepened  as  Bennett  continued: 

"You  don't  love  Gibbs?  Surely  you  don't 
love  him?" 

«T 5> 

The  French  windows  swung  wide,  breaking 
off  her  reply. 


CHAPTER  II. 

LOVE  AND  POLITICS. 

ALWYN  BENNETT  turned  sharply  toward  the 
window,  angry  at  the  interruption.  But  Perry 
Wainwright,  ushering  two  ladies  in  from  the 
veranda,  met  his  scowl  with  a  wink  of  triumph. 

"Not  so  bad,  eh?"  called  the  boy.  "Met  them 
as  they  were  turning  into  the  drive.  You 
see » 

"Oh,"  observed  the  younger  of  the  two 
women — a  pretty,  flower-faced  girl  who,  since 
her  entrance  into  the  room,  had  been  engaged 
in  exchanging  delighted  greetings  with  Dallas. 
"So  you  came  to  meet  us?  You  said  you  just 
happened— 

"Did  I?"  asked  Perry,  in  deep  amazement. 
"Well,  well !  The  fact  is,  I  wanted  to  do  some 
thing  startling  in  honor  of  meeting  you.  So  I 
told  my  first  lie.  I " 

"Don't  mind  him,  Cynthia!"  laughed  Dallas. 
"He's  taken  that  way  quite  often." 

"Oh,  it's  his  usual  pace,  then?"  queried  Miss 


THOMPSON    OVERHEARS  HIS  OWN   LIFE   STORY.— Page  27. 


The  New  Mayor.  25 

Garrison,  innocently.  "I  thought  perhaps  he 
was  just  warming  up." 

"And  now,"  pursued  Dallas,  taking  pos 
session  of  Cynthia,  much  to  Perry's  disgust, 
"tell  me  all  about  yourself.  Have— 

"There  isn't  much  to  tell.  But  there's  going 
to  be.  I'm  going  to  work." 

"Work?    What  for?" 

"For  a  living,  of  course." 

"Not  really?" 

"Yes;  isn't  it  ridiculous?"  broke  in  Mrs.  Ben 
nett,  a  sweet  little  old  lady  who  now  found  her 
first  chance  to  edge  in  a  word  amid  the  general 
volley  of  talk.  "But  Cynthia  is  set  on  doing 
it."  ' 

"Why  shouldn't  I?  I  haven't  a  dollar,  and 
there's  a  theory  that  one  must  live." 

"But  what  are  you  going  to  do?"  asked 
Dallas. 

"I  don't  know.  I  have  a  pretty  good  educa 
tion.  I  shall  find  something.  I — Dallas,  I 
think  your  brother  is  giving  us  a  high  sign  of 
some  sort." 

"I  am!"  declared  Perry.  "I  just  wanted  to 
tell  you  there's  a  surprise  waiting  for  you. 
Two  surprises.  In  one  kennel.  Want  to  see 
'em?" 

"What  is  he  talking  about?"  queried  Cyn- 


26  The  New  Mayor. 

thia,  appealing  to  Dallas  for  light  on  the  mys 
tery. 

"About  Betty  and  Prince  Charlie,"  retorted 
Perry.  "Your  two  Boston  terriers  that  I 
bought.  Want  to  see  'em?" 

"Oh,  the  darlings!  Of  course  I  do.  Where 
are  they?" 

"Come  along  and  I'll  show  you.  The  dar 
lings,  eh?  Talk  like  that  makes  me  wish  I  was 
a  dog!" 

"Don't  despair!"  suggested  Cynthia.  "May 
be  you'll  grow." 

Still  puzzling  vaguely  as  to  the  possible 
meaning  of  this  cryptic  utterance,  Perry  fol 
lowed  Miss  Garrison  from  the  room,  a  grin  of 
satisfied  ambition  wreathing  his  tanned  face. 

"To  think  of  poor  little  Cynthia  having  to 
go  to  work!"  sighed  Dallas,  looking  after  them. 
"One  would  as  soon  think  of  putting  a  butter 
fly  into  harness.  Is  it  true  she  has  no  money 
left?" 

"I'm  afraid  it's  onlv  too  true,"  answered 

•J 

Mrs,  Bennett.  "Her  father  lost  everything 
in  speculating.  He  was  cashier  of  the  Israel 
Putnam  Trust  Company  and  afterward  presi 
dent.  He- 
She  paused  as  the  office  door  opened  and 
Thompson,  the  secretary,  came  into  the  room. 
At  sight  of  Mrs.  Bennett  he  seemed  about  to 


The  New  Mayor.  27 

turn  back,  but  changed  his  purpose,  crossed  to 
the  table  and  began  to  look  for  some  documents 
he  had  failed  to  gather  up. 

"What  was  the  rest  of  the  story  about  Mr. 
Garrison?"  asked  Dallas,  really  interested  in 
the  older  woman's  recital. 

Thompson's  papers  slipped  through  his  fin 
gers  and  went  skidding  across  the  polished 
floor.  The  others  looked  around  in  surprise. 

"Excuse  me!"  muttered  the  secretary,  as  he 
stooped  to  gather  up  the  documents.  "Very 
awkward!  I'm  sorry." 

He  went  on  arranging  the  scattered  papers 
in  his  usual  unobtrusive  silence,  effacing  him 
self  from  the  general  talk. 

"You  were  telling  me  about  Cynthia's 
father,"  said  Dallas. 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  Mrs.  Bennett,  taking  up  the 
thread  of  her  tale.  "He  was  looked  on  as  one 
of  the  most  honorable  bankers  in  the  city.  And 
so  he  was,  until  his  misfortune." 

"Misfortune?" 

"More  misfortune  than  crime.  His  wife 
was  a  girlhood  friend  of  mine,  so  perhaps  I  am 
prejudiced  in  his  favor.  A  famous  financier— 
a  dear  friend  of  his — induced  him  to  make  a 
very  large  loan  that  proved  to  be  a  mistake. 
He  went  to  the  'financier  for  advice  as  to  how 
to  recoup  the  loss.  The  financier  told  him  of 


28  'The  New  Mayor. 

an  investment  by  which  he  could  get  all  the 
money  back  without  any  risk,  and  could  make 
good  the  loan.  Mr.  Garrison  took  his  advice, 
used  the  bank's  funds  for  the  purpose,  and — - 
the  investment  proved  worthless.  The  bank 
was  insolvent.  Mr.  Garrison  shot  himself." 

"Plorrible!    Horrible!"  murmured  Dallas. 

"The  'horrible'  part  of  the  whole  story  came 
out  later,"  said  Alwyn  Bennett.  "It  seems  the 
financier  had  deliberately  ruined  Mr.  Garrison 
and  was  on  the  other  side  of  the  deal  by  which 
the  bank's  funds  were  lost.  In  other  words, 
he  persuaded  his  friend  to  put  money  in  what 
he  knew  was  a  losing  venture,  then  took  that 
money  himself." 

"He  did  it  wilfully,"  chimed  in  Mrs.  Ben 
nett,  "knowing  his  friend  would  be  ruined  and 
that  the  bank's  money  which  he  lured  Mr.  Gar 
rison  into  investing  was  going  to  swell  his  own 
ill-gotten  fortune." 

"I  did  not  think  any  one  lived  who  could  do 
such  things,"  shuddered  Dallas.  "Poor  Cyn 
thia!" 

"Cynthia  suffered  least  of  all,"  said  Mrs. 
Bennett.  "She  was  little  more  than  a  child 
at  the  time.  Her  mother  died  of  grief,  and  her 
brother— -a  promising,  clever  young  fellow, 
just  entering  college— disappeared." 

"Deserted  Cynthia?" 


The  New  Mayor.  29 

"Not  so  bad  as  that.  He  probably  went 
away  sooner  than  face  his  father's  disgrace, 
and  began  life  somewhere  far  from  home.  That 
was  nine  years  ago ;  yet  ever  since  then  he  sends 
Cynthia  a  little  money  every  month.  Not 
much,  but  no  doubt  all  he  can  scrape  together 
above  his  bare  living  expenses.  She  has  tried 
in  every  way  to  get  in  touch  with  him,  but  she 
can't  locate  him  anywhere.  There  is  no  clue 
except  that  monthly  money-order.  I  never 
knew  him  very  well.  In  fact,  I  only  saw  him 
once  or  twice;  but  I've  heard  he  was  a  fine, 
manly  boy.  The  shock  must  have  been  worst 
of  all  on  him." 

"So  a  man  lost  his  good  name  and  his  life, 
his  wife  died,  his  son's  life  was  wrecked,  and 
his  daughter  impoverished,"  mused  Dallas; 
"and  all  that  a  financier  might  grow  a  little 
richer.  I  can't  believe  it!" 

A  little  ashamed  of  displaying  such  vehe 
mence  in  the  presence  of  one  of  her  uncle's  de 
pendents,  the  girl  glanced  toward  the  table. 
But  the  secretary  had  gone. 

"My  husband,"  prattled  Mrs.  Bennett,  com 
placently,  "always  said  that  the  men  who  rose 
highest  in  the  money  world  reached  their  lofty 
places  over  the  despoiled  bodies  of  hundreds  of 
victims.  Thank  God,  my  boy  has  no  such 
parental  record  to  look  back  on!  My  husband 


30  The  New  Mayor. 

was  one  man  in  a  million.  The  soul  of  honor, 
both  in  business  and  in  prfVate  life.  You've 
read  of  his  splendid  Civil  War  record?  Then 
he  went  into  business  as  a  contractor  and  engi 
neer,  and  earned  a  fortune,  every  dollar  of 
which  was  honest.  That's  something  to  be 
proud  of  in  these  money-loving  times." 

"What  was  the  name  of  the  financier  who 
ruined  Mr.  Garrison?"  asked  Dallas,  still 
haunted  by  the  narrative  she  had  just  heard. 

"No  one  knows.  It  was  suppressed  at  the 
time.  The  facts  in  the  written  confession  left 
by  Mr.  Garrison  became  public  property.  But, 
through  political  influence,  the  name  of  the 
man  responsible  for  the  tragedy  was  sup 
pressed.  Here  I  sit  chatting  on  doleful  topics, 
while  those  two  young  people  are  running  all 
over  the  place  unchaperoned.  Excuse  me, 
won't  you?  and  I'll  look  them  up." 

She  smiled  at  Alwyn  as  she  left  the  room, 

J 

and  his  answering  smile  showed  how  fully  he 
understood  and  appreciated  her  motive  in  leav 
ing  him  alone  with  Dallas  Wainwright.  Per 
haps  Dallas,  too,  understood,  for  she  made  as 
though  to  follow  Mrs.  Bennett  out  on  the  lawn. 
But  Alwyn  stepped  between  her  and  the  win 
dow. 

"Don't  go  just  yet,"  he  begged.  "I've  so 
much  to  talk  over  with  you.  When  they  came 


The  New  Mayor.  31 

in  we  were  speaking  of  that  paragraph  about 
Gibbs  and  yourself.  You  don't  love  him,  do 
you,  Dallas?  Tell  me  you  don't!" 

"What  right  have  you  to  ask  me  such  a 
question?" 

"Only  the  right  that  my  love  for  you  gives 
me,  dear  heart.  You  must  have  known  I  loved 
you,  even  though  I've  never  said  it  before. 
I  love  you,  Dallas,  though  till  to-day,  I  think, 
I  never  realized  how  much.  Tell  me  it  isn't 
true  that  you're  going  to  marry  Gibbs." 

"Even  if  it  weren't  true,  I  should  not  marry 
you,  Alwyn." 

"Ah!" 

The  exclamation  was  wrung  unconsciously 
from  his  whitening  lips.  It  was  as  though  a 
pang  of  physical  pain  had  pierced  him. 

"I  wouldn't  marry  you,"  went  on  Dallas, 
though  more  gently,  "because  you  don't  really 
love  me." 

"I  do!  I  do!  With  my  whole  heart, 
j " 

"Oh,  Alwyn!"  she  exclaimed,  with  almost 
mother-like  tolerance.  "What  a  child  you  are! 
What  a  mere  child!  Some  one  tries  to  take 
away  from  you  a  plaything  you've  grown  used 
to  having.  You  never  cared  especially  about 
the  plaything  before,  but  now  that  you're  in 
danger  of  losing  it  you  cry  out  'Oh,  I  love  it! 


32  The  New  Mayor. 

I  love  it!'  You'll  soon  find  another  toy  that'll 
make  you  forget " 

"Dallas!  You  are  unfair!  You  have  no 
right  to  treat  my  love  for  you  as  if " 

"As  if  it  were  a  mere  whim?  Isn't  it?  Now 
don't  say  'No,'  but  look  me  in  the  eyes  and 
answer  one  question.  If  Scott  Gibbs  hadn't 
proposed  to  me — if  that  paragraph  had  not 
appeared  in  the  paper — would  you  have  come 
here  to-day  and  told  me  you  loved  me?  No, 
you  know  you  wouldn't!" 

"Don't  talk  like  that,  dear!"  implored  Ben 
nett.  "I  tell  you  I  love  you!  More  than  I 
ever  dreamed  a  woman  could  be  loved.  I  love 
you!  I- 

"There's  an  easy  way  to  prove  it,  then." 

"What  way?    Anything " 

"By  doing  something  to  make  me  feel  proud 
of  you.  I  don't  feel  so  now.  I  could  not 
marry  a  man  who  loiters  his  life  away — a  man 
who  sits  idle  while  others  are  thronging  past 
him  in  the  upward  climb.  You  are  rich,  thanks 
to  your  father's  efforts.  What  have  you  done 
with  that  wealth?  If  you've  done  no  harm 
with  it,  you've  at  least  put  it  to  no  good  use. 
You  are  young,  talented,  highly  educated. 
What  have  you  done  with  your  youth,  your 
talents,  your  education?  How  have  you  used 
them  for  your  own  betterment  or  for  your 


The  New  Mayor.  33 

fellow-men's?  What  have  you  to  offer  me? 
Money?  Social  position?  I  have  plenty  of 
both.  What  else  can  you  offer  me?  Nothing 
—absolutely  nothing!" 

"My  love,  for  one  thing.  I  can  offer  you 
that." 

"In  what  is  your  love  better  than  any  other 
man's?  Behind  it  is  there  a  record  of  hard 
work,  of  self-sacrifice,  of  achievement — of  any 
of  the  things  that  go  toward  making  love 
strong  and  enduring  and  beautiful — to  make 
it  a  support  that  a  woman  can  lean  on  for  life? 
What  have  you  to  offer  me — or  any  other 
woman?" 

There  was  a  silence.  Yet  when  Bennett 
spoke  there  was  a  new  note  in  his  voice ;  a  ring 
of  awakening  strength  that  impressed  Dallas, 
in  spite  of  herself;  that  sent  a  wholly  strange 
thrill  through  her  and  set  her  heart  to  beating 
with  unwonted  quickness. 

"You're  right,"  said  he.  "I  have  done  noth 
ing.  I've  been  content  to  be  a  rich  man's  son. 
And  I've  nothing  to  offer  that  is  worthy  your 
acceptance.  But  that  does  not  mean  I  never 
shall  have.  And  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  shall ! 
You've  put  things  in  a  new  light.  I  see  them 
as  I  never  did.  It  isn't  a  wholly  pleasant  ex 
perience.  But  it's  good  for  me.  There's  noth- 


34  The  New  Mayor. 

ing  yet  that  I'm  fitted  to  do.  But  I'll  find 
something,  never  fear.  And  when  I  do— 

"Don't  say  there's  nothing  you're  fit  for," 
protested  Dallas.  "There's  nothing  you 
couldn't  accomplish  if  once  you  set  yourself 
to  it.  Why,  just  think  of  those  speeches  you 
made  for  Mr.  Lorimer  last  campaign.  They 
were  fine.  I  was  so — — 

"Oh,  those  amounted  to  nothing.  I  just  did 
it  to  oblige  him.  And,  besides,  it  was  fun  to 
sway  the  crowds." 

"That's  just  it.  You  did  it  for  fun  and  for 
a  friend.  Why  not  do  something  in  earnest 
and  for  yourself?  The  world  is  fairly  bristling 
with  opportunities  for  such  a  man  as  you. 
Grasp  those  opportunities.  Won't  you?" 

"Yes!  And  when  I  do—  Is  there  any 
hope  that  you  will?" 

"I  have  given  Mr.  Gibbs  no  promise.  I 
told  him  to  wait." 

"Then  my  chance  is  as  good  as  his!  From 
now  on  I  am  going  to  drop  the  role  of  rich 
man's  son  and  be  something  on  my  own  ac 
count.  If  you  have  faith  in  me — if  you  believe 
in  me — if  there  is  a  ghost  of  a  chance  that  you 
can  some  day  love  me— 

"I  have  faith  in  you,  Alwyn,"  she  answered 
softly,  letting  her  hand'lie  passive  in  his  grasp. 


The  New  Mayor.  35 

Then,  withdrawing  it  witn  a  pretty  gesture  of 
petulance,  she  added: 

"Only  I  wish  it  didn't  always  require  a  blow 
to  rouse  you  to  action.  Did  you  ever  happen 
to  notice  that  trait  in  yourself?" 

"Why,  no.  I  don't  quite  understand." 
"Then  here's  an  instance  that  will  show  you 
what  I  mean:  In  your  senior  year  at  Yale, 
when  you  were  playing  halfback  on  the  'Var 
sity  eleven,  I  saw  my  first  football  game.  It 
was  against  Princeton.  You  were  the  only 
man  on  either  team  I  knew.  So  I  watched 
you  from  first  to  last.  Little  as  I  understood 
football,  I  could  see  you  were  playing  a  clever, 
hard,  conscientious  game.  But  it  wasn't  a 
fighting  game.  Not  the  sort  of  game  that 
carries  everything  before  it.  Then,  in  the  sec 
ond  half,  in  one  of  the  scrimmages,  I  saw  a 
Princeton  man  strike  you.  Oh,  it  wras  a  das 
tardly,  cowardly  blow!  He  struck  you  when 
your  head  was  turned  away.  You  saw  who  it 
was  and  you  made  no  appeal  to  the  referee. 
But  in  the  next  scrimmage  you  broke  that 
man's  collarbone  and  stunned  him.  He  was 
carried  senseless  from  the  field.  And  you  kept 
on.  You  had  begun  to  play  a  fighting  game. 
And  it  carried  you  through  the  Princeton  line 
for  the  only  touchdown  of  the  day.  You  won 
the  game  for  Yale.  You  were  the  college 


36  The  New  Mayor. 

— the  man  of  the  hour.  But  it  took  a  blow  to 
rouse  you.  Now,  do  you  understand?" 

"Yes,  I  think  I  do.  Perhaps  you're  right. 
I  certainly  remember  the  blow  well  enough. 
Do  you  happen  to  know  who  it  was  that  struck 
me  that  day  on  the  football  field?" 

"No;  I  knew  none  of  the  players  except  you. 
Who " 

"It  was  Gibbs." 

"No!" 

"I'm  not  likely  to  have  forgotten.  Ask  him 
yourself.  He  will  remember,  I  fancy.  It  was 
a  week  before  he  left  the  infirmary." 

"But  I  can't  realize  that  Mr.  Gibbs  would 
do  such  a  thing !  It  was  so  cowardly — so — 

"Oh,  don't  hold  it  against  him.  He  was  ex 
cited  and— 

"Tell  Mr.  Phelan  I'll  see  him  in  the  library," 
called  Wainwright  from  the  hall. 

"More  politics!"  exclaimed  Dallas.  "Come, 
shall  we  go  out  to  the  tennis  court?" 

They  passed  through  the  open  French  win 
dow  as  Wainwright  and  Gibbs  entered  the 
library  from  the  opposite  door. 

"The  Alderman's  a  little  behind  time,"  said 
Wainwright.  "He's  a  character  in  his  way. 
You'll  be  interested  in  meeting  him,  Gibbs." 

"Mr.  Phelan!"  announced  the  butler. 

"I  know  my  own  name,  son,"  remarked  a 


The  New  Mayor.  37 

voice  behind  him.  "You  needn't  go  hollerin' 
it  at  me  like  I  was  bein'  ratified  at  an  East  Side 
meetin'.  Mornin',  Mr.  Wainwright!  Maybe 
it  was  you  he  was  hollerin'  at." 

"You're  a  little  late,  Alderman,"  said  the 
financier. 

"I  always  am.  Let  the  other  feller  do  the 
waitin'.  That's  my  motto,  and  many  a  good 
hour's  time  I've  saved  by  it.  Who's  your 
friend?" 

"Mr.  Gibbs,  of  Gibbs  &  Norton.  Mr.  Gibbs, 
this  is  Alderman  Phelan." 

"Of  the  Eighth,"  amended  Phelan.  "Only 
man  to  carry  his  ward  last  election  runnin'  in 
dependent.  Pleased  to  meet  you.  Yes,  sir, 
I  ran  independent  and  I  won,  as  Wainwright 
here  can  tell  you.  Horrigan's  out  against  me 
this  year,  and  he's  got  carried  away  by  some 
fool  idea  that  he  can  down  me  next  campaign." 

"Can  he?"  asked  Gibbs,  politely  bored. 

"Can  he?"  roared  Phelan,  his  close-clipped 
hair  a-bristle.  "Can  he?  Can  Chesty  Dick 
Horrigan  down  Alderman  Jimmy  Phelan? 
Well !  Nothin'  to  it,  son.  When  I'm  through 
with  Dick  Horrigan  he'll  have  worried  him 
self  so  thin  they'll  have  to  wear  glasses  to  shave 
him.  I'll  bury  him  so  deep  this  fall  that  they'll 
never  find  him  till  they  start  diggin'  a  subway 
to  China." 


38  The  New  Mayor. 

"You  seem  pretty  confident,"  observed 
Gibbs. 

"Confident!  Why  not?  Why  not,  I  ask 
you?  Why  wouldn't  I  be  confident?  Is  there 
a  voter  in  the  ward — black,  white,  yellow  or 
greenhorn — that  I  can't  call  by  his  first  name 
and  ask  after  all  the  children  by  name?  Is 
there  a  voter  in  the  ward  that  I  haven't  staked 
to  coal,  or  outings  or  bail  or  booze?  Is  there? 
If  so,  name  him  to  me.  Put  a  name  to  him. 
They're  my  friends  twelve  months  of  every 
year.  Not  just  at  election  time.  Horrigan, 
indeed!  Say,  if  he  starts  runnin'  any  man  in 
my  ward  he'll  have  to  sight  him  by  a  tree  to 
see  if  he's  makin'  any  progress  or  not.  Hor 
rigan,  hey!" 

"Come,  come,  Alderman,"  interposed  Wain- 
wright.  "Why  don't  you  and  Horrigan  smoke 
the  pipe  of  peace?  Why 

"The  only  pipe  me  an'  Dick  Horrigan  will 
ever  come  together  over  will  be  a  yard  of  lead 
pipe,  an'  my  fist  will  be  at  one  end  of  that 
an'  his  thick  head  at  th'  other." 

"But,"  remonstrated  Wainwright,  "he  is  a 
strong  man.  Is  it  safe  to  fight  him?" 

"Why  isn't  it?  He's  got  to  come  into  the 
Eighth  to  lick  me,  and  he'll  be  about  as  strong 
there  as  a  barkeeper's  influence  with  the  Pro 
hibition  party.  Besides,  I  like  a  fight.  I'm 


The  New  Mayor.  39 

the  original  'Stop,  Look  and  Listen'  signal  at 
Trouble  Station.  I- 

"As  a  personal  favor  to  me,  Alderman," 
wheedled  Mr.  Wainwright,  in  his  most  per 
suasive  manner,  "won't  you  make  a  friend  of 
Horrigan?" 

"I'd  gladly  oblige  you  by  makin'  a  fine, 
fash'nable,  rollickin'  funeral  of  him;  but 
friends — friends !" 

"But  if  I  asked  him  here  to  meet  you, 
wouldn't  you  try  to  be  cordial  to  him?" 

"I  sure  would!  As  cordial  as  a  bankrupt 
to  a  rent  collector.  He'd  be  pretty  near  as 
welcome  as  a  broken  leg!" 

"I'm  sorry  you  look  at  it  that  way,  Alder 
man,  because  I've  asked  him  to-day." 

"To  come  here?    Quit  your  joshin'!" 

"But  he  doesn't  know  he'll  meet  you." 

"An'  he'll  never  find  it  out.  For  I'm  on  my 
way.  I'd  sooner  meet  a  p'rade  from  th'  Con 
tagion  Hospital." 

"Of  course,  if  you're  really  afraid  of 
him- 

"Afraid  of  him!"  snorted  Phelan,  coming  to 
a  full  stop  at  the  door  and  then  returning  to 
the  middle  of  the  room.  "Afraid  of  Dick  Hor 
rigan!  Show  me  the  man  I'm  afraid  to  meet, 
and  I'll  meet  him  with  pleasure  just  to  show 
you  it's  a  lie.  As  for 


40  The  New  Mayor. 

"Mr.  Horrigan!"  came  the  butler's  an 
nouncement  from  the  threshold. 

The  man  who  followed  the  announcement 
was  one  who  carried  in  his  bearing  the  chief 
reasons  for  his  success.  Tall,  stout,  square  ©f 
jaw,  square  of  brow,  hard  of  mouth,  he  seemed 
to  dominate  his  very  surroundings  and  to  ex 
hale  a  rough  forcefulness  that  carried  all  be 
fore  it.  His  physiognomy  was  essentially  that 
of  the  born  fighter,  as  well  as  leader — the  man 
that  neither  gives  nor  asks  quarter.  From  the 
days  when,  as  a  ferry-ticket  seller,  he  had  laid 
the  foundations  of  his  later  fortunes  by  "knock 
ing  down  fares" — up  through  his  varied  career 
as  policeman,  contractor,  politician  and  boss- 
he  had  fought  his  way  ever  to  the  front  by  that 
same  force,  backed  by  a  bulldog  pluck,  a 
genius  for  organization  and  a  mentality  wholly 
devoid  of  scruple  and  conscience. 

It  could  not  be  said  of  Richard  Horrigan 
that  his  morals  were  bad.  He  simply  had  no 
morals  at  all.  By  contact  with  men  of  higher 
culture  than  his  own  he  had  lost  his  early  in 
correctness  and  vulgarity  of  speech.  His  domi 
neering  roughness  of  manner  he  had  no  wish 
to  lose.  It  was  by  far  too  valuable  an  asset. 

"Good-morning,  Mr.  Wainwright,"  began 
Horrigan,  with  a  breezy  familiarity,  as  he 
g^rode  into  the  library,  quite  unabashed  at  find- 


The  New  Mayor.  41 

ing  himself  in  the  presence  of  the  dreaded  Fi 
nance  King;  "I'm  a  bit  ahead  of  time, hut- 
He  stopped  short  with  a  grunt  of  rage.  His 
eye  had  fallen  on  Phelan.  Bristling  ,like  a 
plucky  terrier  at  the  onset  of  a  mastiff,  the  Al 
derman  stood  his  ground,  giving  the  Boss 
glare  for  glare. 

And  so,  for  a  moment,  the  enemies  faced 
each  other. 


CHAPTER  III. 

A  SURPRISE. 

HORRIGAN  was  first  to  break  the  tense 
silence. 

"What's  this  here  for?"  he  growled,  in 
dicating  Phelan  with  a  contemptuous  jerk  of 
the  head  and  addressing  no  one  in  particular. 

"Ask  your  friend  Wainwright,"  grunted 
Phelan,  with  equal  roughness. 

"I — you  see,"  began  Wainwright,  conciliat- 
ingly — "I  didn't  like  to  see  two  such  first-rate 
chaps  at  odds  with  each  other,  so  I  wanted  to 
bring  you  together  here  to — 

"Oh,  you  did,  did  you?"  sneered  Horrigan; 
"and  what  did  Phelan  say  to  that  little  plan?" 

"I  said,"  snapped  Phelan,  before  his  host 
could  reply — "I  said  I'd  see  you  in  -  -  first  1" 

"Same  here,  twice  over!"  said  Horrigan. 

"But,"  interposed  Wainwright,  coaxingly, 
"is  there  no  way " 

"No!"  retorted  Horrigan,  his  deep  voice 
rumbling  far  down  in  his  throat;  "there  isn't. 


The  New  Mayor.  43 

Look  here,  Phelan!  I'm  out  for  your  scalp, 
and  I'm  going  to  get  it!" 

"Come  on,  look  for  it!"  crowed  Phelan,  fair 
ly  hopping  up  and  down  in  rage  and  excite 
ment.  "Come  a-runnin'!  An'  while  you're 
huntin'  my  scalp,  don't  overlook  one  bet.  I'm 
after  yours!" 

"Mine,  you  little  shrimp!    Why— 

"Yes,  yours,  Horrigan,  you  cur!  You're 
pretty  chesty  an'  strong  standin'  on  the  top  of 
the  organization.  But  you're  no  bloomin' 
Statue  of  Liberty!  You  can  be  tore  down. 
An'  here's  the  man  who's  goin'  to  do  the  tear- 
in'.  Me — Alderman  Jimmy  Phelan,  of  the 
Eighth!" 

"Let  it  go  at  that  for  now.  You'll  wake  up 
in  the  fall — when  the  election— 

"Let  it  go  at  that  for  keeps.    I— 

"Mr.  Wainwright,"  broke  in  Horrigan,  "if 
this  was  the  business  you  wanted  to  talk  over 
with  me  here— 

"It  isn't,"  assured  the  thoroughly  uncom 
fortable  financier. 

"Oh!  Then  we  can  get  down  to  real  busi 
ness,  perhaps,  when  this  fellow's  gone." 

"That  lets  me  out,"  observed  Phelan,  cheer 
fully,  as  he  picked  up  his  hat.  "G'-by,  Mr. 
Wainwright.  G'-by,  Mr.  Gibbs.  Horrigan, 
I'll -" 


44  The  New  Mayor. 

"But  you'll  stay  to  lunch,  Alderman,  won't 
you?"  urged  Wainwright,  with  an  effort  at  cor 
diality  that  deceived  no  one. 

"No,  thanks,"  replied  Phelan.  "When  the 
curtain's  down  and  the  orchestra's  gone  home, 
I  don't  need  no  usher  to  poke  me  in  the  ribs  to 
tell  me  the  show's  out.  As  for  stayin'  to  break 
bread  with  Dick  Horrigan,  I'd  sooner  have  a 
jolly  little  grub-fest  with  Wiley's  poison 
squad.  Good-by,  all.  Horrigan,  as  for  you, 
some  day  I'll  cross  two  sticks  of  dynamite 
under  you  and  you'll  scatter  so  wide  that  the 

*  •/ 

inquest  over  your  remains  will  have  to  be  held 
in  fourteen  counties." 

"I  am  so  sorry,  Mr.  Horrigan,  that  this 
should  have  happened  in  my  house,"  said 
Wainwright,  as  the  irate  Alderman  stalked 
out,  leaving  the  Boss  staring  after  him  in  dumb 
fury.  "I  meant  it  for  the  best,  and ' 

"Mr.  Wainwright,"  interrupted  Horrigan, 
venting  his  pent-up  wrath  on  his  dismayed 
host,  "this  old  world  of  ours  is  white  with  bones 
of  failures,  of  fools,  of  dead  beats.  In  other 
words,  of  folks  who  'meant  it  for  the  best.' 
Now*  let's  get  down  to  business." 

"First  let  me  introduce  Mr.  Gibbs.  He— 

"Glad  to  meet  him;  but  he'll  excuse  me  when 
I  say  I  never  talk  business  when  there's  a  third 
party  around.  No  offense,  Mr.  Gibbs.  Just; 


The  New  Mayor.  45 

walk  out  and  take  a  look  at  the  view,  like  a 
good  boy,  won't  you?  Thanks!" 

Gibbs,  at  a  warning  look  of  appeal  from 
Wainwright,  checked  the  angry  retort  that 
sprang  to  his  lips,  turned  on  his  heel  and 
walked  out.  Horrigan,  who  had  observed  the 
glance  exchanged  between  the  two  men,  grudg 
ingly  attempted  to  soften  the  effect  of  his 
brusqueness. 

"I  didn't  mean  to  snub  your  friend,"  said 
he;  "but  Phelan  riled  me,  and  I  took  it  out 
of  the  next  man  I  spoke  to.  What  on  earth 
set  you  to  having  Phelan  here  to  meet  me  for, 
anyway?" 

"Just  as  I  said.  I  wanted  to  win  him  over 
to  us.  We  will  need  every  strong  man  we  can 
get  this  fall.  We- 

"You  know  a  lot  about  finance,  Mr.  Wain 
wright,  but  you're  a  rank  outsider  in  politics, 
or  you'd  never  have  made  such  a  break.  I 
can't  compromise  with  Phelan,  even  if  I  want 
ed  to.  He's  stood  out  against  me,  and  I've 
got  to  smash  him.  If  he  could  defy  me  and 
get  away  with  it,  other  leaders  would  think  they 
could  do  it,  too;  and  in  less  than  no  time  the 
organization  would  be  split  up  into  a  dozen 
factions,  and  I'd  be  down  and  out.  Under 
stand?  I've  got  to  look  out  for  discipline  if 
I'm  to  hold  the  place  I've  won.  When  a  man 


46  The  New  Mayor. 

in  the  organization  starts  a  fight  against  me, 
I  must  down  him.  There's  no  turning  back. 
That's  why  I'm  Boss.  Every  man  in  the  crowd 
knows  he's  got  to  obey  me  or  fight  me,  and 
that  if  it's  fight,  it's  a  battle  to  the  death.  And 
he's  the  man  who  does  the  dying.  Not  I. 
Now,  you  understand  ?  So  we  can  get  to  busi 
ness.  "What— 

But  business  seemed  this  morning  fated  to 
many  interruptions.  The  latest  came  in  the 
form  of  Judge  Newman,  who,  bustling  into 
the  room  with  all  his  customary  pompous  dig 
nity,  suddenly  stopped  in  his  tracks  and  wilted 
at  sight  of  the  Boss. 

"Good-morning,  Mr.  Horrigan,"  said  the 
Judge,  ingratiatingly,  wriggling  under  the 
Boss's  glower.  "I  hope  I'm  not  here  too  early 
and  that  Mr.  Wainwright  has  interceded 
for- 

"For  your  renomination?"  queried  Horri 
gan,  speaking  as  though  to  a  disgraced  serv 
ant.  "If  that's  what  you're  here  for  you  might 
have  spared  yourself  the  trouble.  What  I  told 
you  before  still  goes." 

"But,  Mr.  Horrigan,  consider  how  long  I've 
been  on  the  bench,  and— 

"And  it's  time  you  got  your  nose  out  of  the 
feed-bag  and  gave  some  one  else  a  chance. 
You  are " 


The  New  Mayor.  47 

"I'm  growing  old,  Mr.  Horrigan!"  pleaded 
the  thoroughly  cowed  Judge.  "How  can  I  go 
back  to  law  practice  and  compete  with  younger 
men?  Besides,  Mrs.  Newman  declares— 

"I  can't  help  that,"  returned  Horrigan,  quite 
unmoved.  "You've  had  your  share.  We've 
got  to  look  out  for  our  own  active  workers — 
for  the  men  we  can  count  on  to  do  the  right 
thing." 

"But,  Mr.  Horrigan,"  protested  the  Judge, 
"I  always  try  to  do  what  is  right." 

"I  said  'the  right  thing,'  "  corrected  the  Boss. 
"See  the  difference?" 

"Excuse  me,  Judge,"  intervened  Wain- 
wright.  "If  you'll  leave  this  matter  in  my 
hands  I  will  try  to  convince  Mr.  Horrigan  of 
your  fitness.  Just  leave  it  all  to  me." 

"Oh,  thank  you  so  much,  Charles,"  cried  the 
relieved  little  Judge;  "I'm  sure  I  can  count  on 
you.  Mrs.  Newman  will  be  so  grateful.  Well, 
I  won't  detain  you  any  longer.  Good-by." 

"Good-by,  Judge,"  answered  Wainwright, 
tolerantly. 

"Good-by,  Mr.  Horrigan,"  went  on  Judge 
Newman,  with  effusion. 

A  grunt  from  Horrigan,  who  had  turned  his 
broad  back  on  the  visitor,  was  the  only  reply, 
and  the  Judge  departed  to  bear  the  message  of 
hope  to  Mrs.  Newman. 


48  The  New  Mayor. 

"Have  you  any  special  objections  to  New 
man?"  asked  Wainwright. 

"No,"  said  Horrigan,  "except  I  think  per 
haps  there's  men  who  can  do  better  by  us.  You 
know  how  much  it  means  sometimes  to  have 
the  right  judge  handle  your  case." 

"I  think  at  a  pinch  we  can  manage  New 
man,  and " 

"Oh,  if  it's  a  favor  to  you,  all  right.  But  it 
doesn't  do  those  judiciary  fellows  any  harm 
to  keep  them  guessing  awhile.  It  tames  'em 
and  teaches  'em  to  mind.  Sort  of  keeps  them 
in  their  places,  you  know.  And  now  won't  you 
tell  that  butler  of  yours  not  to  let  us  be  dis 
turbed?" 

Wainwright  complied,  and  the  two  settled 
down  to  their  deferred  talk. 

"How  about  the  election  this  fall?"  began 
the  financier. 

"We're  already  crowing;  but  just  between 
you  and  me,  it's  going  to  be  a  hot  fight.  The 
people  at  large  seem  to  be  a  little  sore  on  the 
organization.  A  few  deals  lately  have  been  a 
little  raw,  and  some  of  the  papers  are  kicking. 
Good  Lord!  If  it  wasn't  for  the  newspapers, 
what  a  cinch  a  Boss  would  have  in  running  a 
city !  It'd  be  like  taking  pennies  from  a  baby's 
bank.  But " 


The  New  Mayor.  49 

"Then  you  think  there  is  some  doubt  about 
the  election?" 

"I  wouldn't  go  so  far  as  that.  It'll  be  a 
tussle,  but  with  plenty  of  cash,  and  the  right 
man  for  Mayor — mark  me,  I  say  and  the  right 
man — we  ought  to  win." 

"The  woods  are  full  of  'right  men/  "  replied 
Wainwright.  "The  money  is  the  chief  thing 
to  consider.  That  is  why  I  asked  you  here  to 
day.  This  is  the  point  I'm  getting  at:  As 
soon  as  election  is  safely  over,  the  Borough 
Street  Railway  will  apply  for  a  franchise  for 
a  car  line  from  Blank  Avenue  to  Dash  Street, 
along  the  river  front." 

"I  see!"  nodded  Horrigan;  "and  as  you  own 
the  City  Surface  Line  and  as  that  is  the  Bor 
ough  Street  Railway's  worst  rival,  you  want 
the  Borough's  franchise  bill  killed  when  it 
comes  before  the  Board  of  Aldermen." 

"You're  wrong.  To  paraphrase  your  own 
words,  you  know  a  lot  about  politics.  I  want 
the  Borough  Street  Railway's  franchise  grant 
ed  and  I  want  that  franchise  to  be  perpetual." 

"But  I  don't  see  what  you're  driving  at.  If 
you  intend  to  merge  the  Borough  Street  Rail 
way  with  your  own  City  Surface  Line,  its 
charter  will  become  void." 

"I  don't  mean  to  merge  them.  I  own  both 
roads,  and  I  run  them  separately." 


50  The  New  Mayor. 

"The you  do!" 

"That's  a  little  surprise,  eh?  I  haven't  made 
any  parade  of  it.  I  just  went  quietly  to  work, 
through  Gibbs,  and  bought  up  a  majority  of 
the  Borough  stock.  Now,  don't  you  see  how 
the  granting  of  the  franchise  and  the  news  that 
I  control  the  road  will  work  when  they  are 
made  known?" 

"Sure!  It'll  send  that  stock  sky-high. 
You'll  scoop  in  a  million  or  two." 

"A  million  or  two!"  echoed  Wainwright, 
scornfully.  "Nearer— 

"Hold  on!"  interrupted  Horrigan.  "What's 
that  noise?" 

He  had  jumped  to  his  feet  with  an  alacrity 
that  was  surprising  in  so  large  a  man,  and  was 
listening  intently. 

"That  clicking?"  asked  Wainwright.  "Oh, 
that's  only  the  private  \vire  in  my  office." 

"Private  wire?    Any  operator?" 

"Of  course.    Why?" 

"Suppose  he  should  happen  to  be  listening 
to  us?" 

"Who?    Thompson?    Absurd!" 

"I  don't  know.    I'd  rather- 

"Nonsense!  It's  Thompson,  my  private  sec 
retary.  A  man  who's  been  with  me  nine  years. 
I  trust  him  as " 


The  New  Mayor.  51 

"But  I  don't.  I  don't  trust  anybody.  Send 
him  into  some  other  room." 

"I  can't.  In  his  absence  some  important 
message  might  come,  and  if  he  wasn't  there  011 
the  very  moment  to  transmit  it  to  me  I  might 
lose  thousands.  He's  all  right  if  ever  a  man 
was.  I  trust  him  implicitly." 

"Oh,  all  right,  then.  Go  on  with  what  you 
were  saying." 

"I  want  the  Borough  Street  Railway  fran 
chise  made  perpetual.  Catch  my  drift?" 

"Sure!  But  the  papers  and  the  property- 
holders  will  make  a  big  kick." 

"Let  them.  They'll  soon  get  hoarse  and 
have  to  rest  their  throats.  As  long  as  we  get 
the  votes  what  do  we  care  if— 

"Yes,  yes,"  agreed  the  Boss,  impatiently. 
"That's  all  right;  but  what  I  want  to  know  is: 
How  does  all  this  concern  me?" 

Horrigan  threw  himself  back  in  his  chair, 
uplifted  cigar  in  one  corner  of  his  mouth, 
thumbs  in  waistcoat  arm-holes,  and  eyed  his 
host  quizzically.  Wainwright  did  not  even  pre 
tend  not  to  understand.  Still,  instead  of  giv 
ing  a  direct  answer,  he  went  on  with  seeming 
irrelevance : 

"I  am  a  public-spirited  citizen.  I  believe 
civic  welfare  would  suffer  by  any  change  in 
municipal  administration.  So,  to  keep  the 


52  The  New  Mayor. 

present  party  in  power,  I  am  willing  to  donate 
to  it  $200,000  toward  election  expenses." 

"That  sounds  pretty  good  as  far  as  it  goes, 
but  maybe  you  didn't  hear  something  I  asked 
you  a  minute  ago.  What  I  want  to  know  is: 
How  does  all  this  concern  me?" 

"I'm  coming  to  that.  As  I  said,  I  am  a  pub 
lic-spirited  citizen.  I'm  also  a  good  friend. 
Such  a  good  friend  that  I'm  always  glad  to  put 
my  friends  on  to  anything  in  the  market  that 
looks  particularly  promising.  Suppose  I  carry 
for  your  account  at  the  market  price  (that's  63 
just  now)  15,000  shares  of  Borough  Street 
Railway  stock?" 

"Well?" 

"If  that  franchise  is  granted,  Borough  stock 
will  go  up  at  least  25  points  within  two  days. 
That  would  clear  up  for  you  a  profit  of — let's 
see— about  $375,000." 

Horrigan  had  pulled  a  pencil  from  his 
pocket  and  was  figuring  on  the  back  of  an  en 
velope. 

"Yes,"  he  said  at  last,  "that's  right.  Three 
hundred  and  seventy-five  thousand  dollars. 
That  would  be  my  profit,  while  yours  would 
run  into  the  millions.  That's  not  warm  enough 
friendship  for  me." 

"Surely,  that  is  a  generous — 

"Generous,  maybe;  but  I'd  like  something 


The  New  Mayor.  53 

munificent.  Say  25,000  shares  at  63.  Then  at 
the  25  point  jump  I'd  make — I'd  make,"  con 
sulting  his  figures  on  the  envelope,  "something 
over  $600,000.  That  sounds  better  to  me, 
hey?" 

"But,  Mr.  Kerrigan!" 

"You've  got  my  terms.  Take  'em  or  leave 
'em." 

"Oh,  very  well,"  conceded  Wainwright,  with 
lame  graciousness.  "Anything  to  oblige  an  old 
friend." 

"Good!  So  we  get  $200,000  for  election  ex 
penses  and  my  personal  account  receives  25,000 
shares  at  63." 

"Quite  so.    And  now " 

"And  now  comes  the  question  of  the  right 
man  for  Mayor.  We ' 

Again  Horrigan  paused,  rising  to  his  feet 
stealthily,  like  some  ponderous  cat,  his  head 
bent  slightly,  as  though  catching  a  faint  or  dis 
tant  sound. 

"What's  the  matter?"  asked  Wainwright, 
looking  up. 

"Nothing,"  returned  Horrigan.  But  he  did 
not  resume  his  seat.  Instead,  as  he  talked  he 
began  to  pace  the  room  in  apparent  aimless- 
ness  ;  yet  every  turn  chanced  to  bring  him  near 
er  and  nearer  to  the  door  of  the  adjoining  of 
fice. 


54  The  New  Mayor. 


see,"  he  said,  "we  must  have  the  right 
man.  If  we  don't,  wre  haven't  a  shadow  of  a 
show  to  win.  We  must  be  careful  to  choose 
the  best  man  possible.  In  fact,  Mr.  Wain- 
wright  —  in  fact— 

His  wanderings  had  brought  him  to  the  of 
fice  door.  With  the  last  word  he-  suddenly 
jerked  it  open. 

Thompson  stepped  quietly  over  the  threshold 
into  the  library,  walked  over  to  his  employer, 
handed  him  a  despatch,  and  went  out  again 
under  the  battery  of  Horrigan's  glare,  closing 
the  office  door  after  him. 

"That  fellow  was  listening  to  every  word 
we  said!"  shouted  the  Boss  as  the  door  shut 
behind  Thompson. 

"How  foolish  you  are!"  protested  Wain- 
wright.  "He  was  bringing  me  this  message. 
I've  tried  and  tempted  and  tested  Thompson 
in  a  hundred  ways,  and  he's  always  rung  true. 
I  trust  him  utterly." 

"Well,  I  don't  trust  a  man  living,"  retorted 
Horrigan,  reluctantly  convinced.  "I  don't 
sign  receipts  or  keep  accounts  or  write  letters 
or  have  witnesses  when  I  talk.  I  always  make 
it  a  question  of  veracity  between  me  and  the 
other  man  if  there's  an  investigation.  My 
word's  as  good  as  any  one's  and  they  can't  prove 
anything  against  me  in  case  of  a  show-down, 


The  New  Mayor.  55 

I  advise  you  to  try  the  same  plan.  It's  a  good 
one.  And,  in  the  meantime,  if  I  were  you  I'd 
keep  an  eye  on  that  secretary — he'll  bear 
watching." 

"Never  mind  about  Thompson.  He's  all 
right.  Let's  get  back  to  the  election.  Who 
have  you  in  mind  for  Mayor?" 

"Well,"  considered  Horrigan,  "he's  got  to 
be  some  one  who  isn't  mixed  up  in  politics  or 
corporations.  Some  one  the  public  isn't  on  to. 
A  man  with  no  queer  past." 

"I  advise  you  to  consult  the  calendar  of 
saints  and  pick  out  your  candidate  there," 
sneered  Wainwright,  who  could  not  clearly  fol 
low  his  guest's  reasoning. 

"No,  I  think  I  can  find  him  on  earth," 
laughed  Horrigan.  "He's  got  to  be  young, 
clever,  educated,  with  a  good  name,  a  good 
family  and  social  standing,  and  plenty  of  cash. 
The  cash  is  important,  so  the  public  will  under 
stand  he  isn't  a  graft  hunter.  They've  got  to 
be  made  to  think  he's  in  the  game  for  purity  of 
politics  and  high  principles  and  love  of  civic 
duty,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing.  At  the  same 
time  he's  got  to  be  some  one  we  can  handle  to 
suit  ourselves.  That's  the  man  who'll  catch  'em 
coming  and  going.  We've  got  to  find  him. 
Any  suggestions?" 

"Well,  how  about  Gibbs?" 

iLo  f 


56  The  New  Mayor. 

"Won't  do.  Broker  and  money  juggler. 
The  public  wouldn't  stand  for  him." 

"Young  Sawyer 

"Sawyer  was  born  foolish  and  he's  been  get 
ting  steadily  sillier  every  year  since.  And  his 
face  shows  it." 

"Ten  Broeck,  then." 

"Ten  Broeck  is  too  fond  of  turning  a  cigar 
ette  into  the  connecting  link  between  fire  and  a 
fool.  And,  besides,  he  wears  a  monocle. 
What'd  happen  if  he  was  to  flash  that  monocle 
in  a  Fourth  Ward  meeting?  There'd  be  a 
massacre." 

"Well,  who,  then?  Have  you  any  one 
in  mind?" 

"Yes,"  assented  Horrigan,  "I  have.  Do 
you  happen  to  know  a  young  fellow  who 
spends  his  summers  near  here — a  chap  named 
Bennett?  Alwvn  Bennett?" 

V 

"Certainly;  I  know  him  well.    But " 

"Well,  how  does  he  strike  you?" 

"I'd  never  have  thought  of  him  in  such  a 
connection." 

"Why  shouldn't  you?  He  pretty  near  ful 
fils  all  our  qualifications.  Besides,  his  father 
used  to  be  a  big  man  in  the  organization.  Got 
some  fat  contracts  from  it  in  his  time,  too." 

"But  young  Bennett  has  never ' 

"He's  well  off,  well  educated,  clever — and  all 


The  New  Mayor.  57 

that.  I  ran  across  him  last  fall  when  he  came 
over  to  help  Lorimer  in  his  fight  in  the  Four 
teenth.  He  made  some  rattling  good  speeches, 
and  the  boys  all  took  a  liking  to  him.  A  swell, 
but  not  a  snob.  Good  mixer,  good  fellow, 
popular,  clear-headed,  no  past — yes,  he's  our 
man.  More  I  think  it  over,  the  surer  I  am." 

"I  shouldn't  wonder  if  you're  right.  How 
would  you  like  to  talk  it  over  with  him  now?" 

"Now?" 

"Yes;  he's  still  around  the  place  somewhere, 
I  think." 

Wainwright  rang  a  bell  and  the  butler  ap 
peared. 

"Find  Mr.  Bennett,"  said  the  financier,  "and 
ask  him  if  he  will  step  here  for  a  moment." 

"Yes,"  went  on  Horrigan,  reflectively  rub 
bing  his  huge,  plump  hands  together,  "he's  the 
man  for  us.  That  is,"  he  added  with  less  as 
surance,  "if  we  can  handle  him." 

"I  think  we  can,"  answered  Wainwright,  a 
fragment  of  his  earlier  conversation  with  Gibbs 
flashing  across  his  memory.  "You  see,  I  have 
fairly  good  reasons  for  believing  he's  in  love 
with  my  niece,  Miss  Dallas  Wainwright." 

"So?    That's- 

"And,  as  I  control  her  fortune  and  her  broth 
er's  until  Perry  is  twenty-five " 


58  The  New  Mayor. 

"Oh,  it's  a  cinch!"  chuckled  Horrigan. 
"He- 

"Mr.  Bennett  is  playing  tennis,"  reported 
the  butler,  coming  to  the  door.  "He  will  be 
here  at  once." 

"Now,"  resumed  Horrigan,  "the  only  thing 
that  remains  is  to  find  out  if  he'll  consent. 
And  then- 

"You  wanted  me,  Mr.  Wainwright?"  asked 
Bennett,  stepping  through  the  long  window 
from  the  veranda.  "Oh,  good-morning,  Mr. 
Horrigan,"  he  added,  on  seeing  the  second  oc 
cupant  of  the  room. 

The  young  man  was  coatless  and  collarless, 
his  silk  shirt  being  turned  in  at  the  neck.  In 
one  hand  he  swung  a  tennis  racket.  With  the 
other  he  mopped  his  flushed  face,  for  the  day 
was  hot  and  the  game  had  been  swift. 

"Yes,"  answered  Wainwright.  "I'm  sorry 
to  interrupt  your  tennis  set,  but  we  want  to  see 
you  on  a  rather  important  matter.  We've  been 
talking  about  you." 

"Thanks!"  said  Bennett,  with  a  puzzled 
smile  from  one  to  the  other  of  the  two  older 
men.  "What  about?" 

"Want  to  be  Mayor?"  queried  Horrigan, 
abruptly. 

"What's  the  answer?"  countered  the  per- 
pjexed  youth. 


The  New  Mayor.  59 

"It  isn't  a  joke,"  intervened  Wainwright. 
"Mr.  Horrigan  is  in  earnest." 

"In  earnest!  I  hope  the  heat  hasn't  gone  to 
his  head." 

"You  don't  understand,"  put  in  Horrigan. 
"I  control  the  party's  nominations.  The  nomi 
nation  for  Mayor  is  yours,  if  you'll  like  it." 

"Not — not  really?"  gasped  Alwyn,  aghast. 

"Yes,  really.    We- 

"But  with  a  whole  organization  full  of  good 
material,  why  do  you  come  to  me?" 

"Because  you're  the  man  we  want." 

"As  an  answer  that's  excellent.  But  as  an 
explanation  it's  mystifying." 

"I'll  tell  you.  We're  looking  forward  to  a 
risky  fight  and— 

"And  since  you  see  no  chance  of  winning, 
you  pick  me  out  as  the  victim  instead  of  some 
organization  man  ?  Good  idea  as  far  as  you're 
concerned;  but  I  beg  to  decline — without 
thanks!" 

"No,  no,"  corrected  Wainwright.  "Mr, 
Horrigan  thinks  you  have  a  strong  chance  of 
winning." 

"That's  right,"  corroborated  the  Boss.  "It'll 
be  a  hard  fight,  but  with  the  right  man  we'll 
win.  And  we  believe  you're  the  right  man. 
Even  if  you  lose,  you'll  show  the  world  what 


60  The  New  Mayor. 

you're  made  of.  Folks  admire  a  fighter.  They 
haven't  much  use  for  an  idler." 

The  coarsely  spoken  words  brought  back 
with  a  rush  Dallas  Wainwright's  plea,  and  his 
own  yearning  to  do  something  to  make  her 
proud  of  him — to  win  her  by  great  deeds — to 
prove  his  love  worth  her  acceptance.  Was  this 
the  chance?  The  chance  he  had  so  eagerly 
longed  for?  It  seemed  providential.  His  face 
alight  with  the  joy  of  battle  and  the  hope  of 
his  heart's  reward,  Bennett  turned  upon  the 
waiting  Boss. 

"I  accept!" 

"Good!"  yelled  Horrigan,  slapping  him  re 
soundingly  on  the  back.  "Good  boy!  Now 
we'll- 

"But  remember  one  thing,  Mr.  Horrigan," 
interrupted  Bennett,  and  his  careless  boyhood 
seemed  to  have  fallen  away  from  him  like  a  dis 
carded  garment,  leaving  the  manhood  and  rug 
ged  strength  stripped  of  all  the  follies  and 
idleness  that  had  hitherto  masked  it;  "remem 
ber  one  thing:  If  I  win  this  fight — if  I  am 
elected  Mayor — I  shall  never  once  swerve  from 
my  solemn  oath  of  office.  I— 

Wainwright,  uneasy  at  the  candidate's  un 
wonted  words  and  manner,  started  to  speak, 
but  Horrigan  deftly  interfered. 

"Of  course  you'll  keep  your  oath  of  office!" 


HORRIGAN  AND  WAINWRIGHT    PERSUADE   BENNETT  TO  RUN 

FOR  MAYOR.— Page  60. 


The  New  Mayor.  61 

he  bellowed  jovially.  "Of  course  you  will. 
That's  understood." 

Then,  in  an  undertone  to  Wainwright,  as 
Alwyn  moved  away,  the  Boss  whispered: 

"Don't  you  butt  in !  Leave  him  to  me !  That 
silly  reform  talk  don't  mean  anything.  It's 
the  way  all  youngsters  in  politics  blow  off 
steam.  Leave  him  to  me  I" 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  FIGHT  AND  A  VICTORY. 

THE  next  few  months  were  a  period  of  un 
precedented  toil  and  excitement  for  Alwyn 
Bennett.  He  sometimes  wondered  at  his  own 
eloquence.  Speech  after  speech  he  made  in 
every  section  of  the  city ;  in  half-built  suburbs, 
in  halls  wrhere  nine-tenths  of  his  hearers  were 
in  evening  dress  and  where  familiar  faces 
dotted  the  place;  in  overcrowded,  smoke-reek 
ing  auditoriums,  where  not  one  man  in  three 
wore  a  collar  and  where  a  score  of  nationalities 
vied  for  precedence. 

With  a  versatility  that  delighted  Horrigan, 
the  candidate  managed  to  adapt  himself  to 
every  audience,  and,  moreover,  to  impress  his 
hearers  with  a  sense  of  his  absolute  sincerity 
and  honesty.  In  the  crowded,  polyglot  meet 
ings  he  hit  on  the  plan  of  speaking  to  repre 
sentatives  of  each  race  in  their  own  language. 
In  a  single  evening,  so  the  papers  recorded,  he 
had  made  speeches  in  English,  French,  Ger- 
63 


The  New  Mayor.  63 

man,  Italian  and  Spanish.  At  some  meetings 
toughs  had  tried  to  confuse  him  by  interrupt 
ing  with  questions,  joking  comment  or  insult. 
For  each,  Alwyn,  without  breaking  the  thread 
of  his  discourse,  found  some  quick  reply  so 
apt  as  to  turn  the  laugh  on  his  tormentor  and 
turn  the  audience's  sympathy  to  himself. 

At  last  Election  Day  came  and  went.  And 
Alwyn  Bennett  by  a  fair  majority  carried  his 
entire  ticket  to  victory.  Even  his  severest 
critics  in  the  organization  were  forced  to  ad 
mit  that  Bennett,  and  Bennett  alone,  had 
saved  the  party  from  severe  defeat.  Horri- 
gan's  judgment  and  choice  of  men  for  the 
thousandth  time  in  the  Boss's  crooked  political 
career  was  vindicated,  and  Horrigan  himself 
was  overjoyed  beyond  measure.  Nor  did  the 
fact  that  he  had  failed  to  oust  Alderman 
Phelan  in  the  primaries  wholly  cloud  the  Boss's 
delight. 

There  was,  however,  a  slight  cloud  on  Al- 
wyn's  own  triumph.  For  Dallas  Wainwright 
was  not  present  to  share  that  triumph.  With 
in  a  few  days  after  Horrigan's  visit  to  the 
Wainwright  place,  Dallas  had  gone  with  an 
aunt  on  an  eight  months'  tour  of  Europe  and 
the  Mediterranean.  But  Perry,  who  at  her 
secret  request  had  kept  her  posted  on  every 
detail  of  the  stirring  campaign,  cabled  her  the 


64  The  New  Mayor. 

result  on  election  night.  And  the  following 
day  a  reply  message  of  congratulation  crossed 
the  Atlantic  to  gladden  Alwyn's  heart.  By 
a  letter  that  followed  a  week  later,  Dallas 
asked  the  first  political  favor  the  future  Mayor 
was  called  upon  to  grant.  She  begged  that  in 
his  office  Bennett  would  try  to  find  a  place  for 
Cynthia  Garrison.  In  consequence  of  which, 
when  the  young  man  made  up  his  list  of  per 
sonal  appointments,  Miss  Garrison  found  her 
self  listed  as  assistant  private  secretary  at  a 
decidedly  comfortable  salary. 

It  was  while  she  was  working  in  that  capac 
ity  in  the  Mayor's  private  room  in  the  City 
Hall,  during  Bennett's  lunch  hour,  one  day 
in  midwinter,  that  her  solitude  was  broken  bjr 
the  entrance  of  a  visitor. 

Perry  Wainwright,  redolent  of  bandbox  and 
soap  as  ever,  found  his  way  past  the  door 
keeper  and  burst  into  the  sanctum. 

"Hello!"  was  his  greeting.  "His  Honor 
isn't  around?" 

"No,"  answered  Cynthia  demurely,  looking 
up  from  her  work  with  the  most  businesslike 
air  she  could  assume;  "he's  out  at  lunch." 

"I  knew  he  would  be,"  grinned  Perry.  "I 
timed  it  fine,  didn't  I?" 

"If  you  knew  he  was  out,  why  did  you 
come?"  she  asked  severely.  "You  know  I 


The  New  Mayor.  65 

never  receive  callers  during  business  hours.  If 
you  didn't  come  to  see  Mr.  Bennett " 

"But  I  did.  Honest  I  did.  I  have  a  mes 
sage  for  him.  It's  awf'ly  important.  He 
mustn't  miss  it." 

"Perhaps  you'll  leave  it  with  me?  I 
can " 

"No;  it's  got  an  answer  to  it.  I'll  have  to 
wait,  I  suppose." 

He  sat  down,  uninvited,  with  an  air  of  mock 
resignation  that  was  too  much  for  Cynthia's 
gravity. 

"Perry  Wainwright !"  she  exclaimed  in  ex 
asperation,  "how  often  am  I  to  tell  you  you 
mustn't  bother  me  here  in  office  hours?" 

"Now  you've  hurt  my  feelings,"  announced 
Perry  in  solemn  conviction.  "But,"  he  added, 
generously,  "I'll  forgive  you;  and  to  prove  it 
I'll  give  you  a  peace  offering.  See?  Your  old 
Boston  terriers,  Betty  and  Prince  Charlie,  and 
me  holding  them." 

And  he  laid  before  her  a  photograph.  She 
caught  it  up  with  a  little  cry  of  pleasure. 

"Oh,  the  beauties!"  she  exclaimed. 

"We  do  look  well  in  that  pose,"  he  admitted 
modestly. 

"I  was  speaking  of  the  dogs,"  she  reproved 
him  with  lofty  scorn. 


66  The  New  Mayor. 

"But  I'm  in  the  picture,  too,"  he  explained. 
"I'm  the  one  with  the  hat  on.  And— 

"Thank  you  so  much  for  the  picture.  I 
shall  keep  it  always.  They're  the  nicest  dogs 
I  ever  had." 

"I'm  nice,  too;  and  it  ain't  my  fault  I'm 
not  a  dog.  I— 

"I  told  you  once  before  not  to  give  up  hope. 
You'll  grow.  I- 

"I  told  that  to  some  fellows  at  the  club  and 
we  tried  to  figure  it  out,  and  we  decided  you 
were  guying  me." 

"What  clever  men  you  must  be  at  that  club ! 
Are  you  going  to  the  Administration  Ball 
next  week?" 

"Are  you?" 

"Why?" 

"Because  that's  the  answer.  I've  never  been 
to  an  Administration  Ball,  but  if  you're  there 
I  guess  it 

"Don't  be  silly!  The  Administration  Ball 
is  a  very  great  function  indeed.  I've  been 
asking  questions  about  it.  Not  only  every  one 
connected  with  the  Administration  goes,  but 
all  sorts  of  capitalists  and  other  people  like 
that.  I've  heard  that  some  of  the  biggest 
financial  deals  are  arranged  during  that  ball. 
Isn't  it  queer?" 

"Not  especially.    There's  a  deal  I'm  think- 


The  New  Mayor.  67 

ing  of  putting  through,  myself,  that  night,  if 
I  don't  get  a  good  chance  earlier.  A  deal  that 
means  a  lot  to  me." 

"Then  why  wait  till  the  ball?  Why 
not- 

"I'd  do  it  now,  only  Bennett  might  come 
in  before — 

"What  a  worker  Mr.  Bennett  is!"  broke  in 
Cynthia,  turning  very  pink  and  hastening  to 
change  the  subject. 

"In  the  old  days  we  thought  he  was  the  soul 
of  laziness.  But  now  he's  working  here  night 
and  day.  He's  not  only  the  youngest  Mayor 
this  city  ever  had,  but  I  think  he's  the  busiest, 
too.  He- 

The  eulogy  on  the  new  Mayor  was  cut  short 
by  that  dignitary's  appearance  from  the  center 
room.  As  Alwyn  paused  to  hang  up  his  coat 
and  hat  and  pull  off  his  gloves,  Cynthia  bent 
once  more  over  her  work,  while  Perry  straight 
ened  up  and  tried  to  look  as  though  he  really 
had  business  of  pressing  importance  with  His 
Honor. 

The  months  had  brought  changes  to  Ben 
nett.  There  were  care  lines  on  his  face  and  his 
eyes  were  tired.  A  few  silver  threads,  too,  had 
crept  into  the  darker  hair  on  his  temples.  There 
was  little  now  about  him  to  suggest  the  idler. 


68  The  New  Mayor. 

"Well,  old  man,"  he  exclaimed  on  seeing 
Perry,  "what's  the  excuse  this  time?" 

"The  what?"  asked  the  youth,  uneasily. 

"The  excuse.  You  come  here — when  I'm 
likely  to  be  out — about  four  times  a  wreek,  and 
always  with  a  perfectly  new  excuse  for  your 
intrusion.  I  tolerate  you  for  the  originality; 
of  those  excuses.  What  is  to-day's?" 

"I  have  no  need  of  an  excuse,"  replied 
Perry  with  an  air  of  hurt  dignity.  "I  am  the 
bearer  of  a  most  important  message  to  you." 

"From  whom?" 

"From — from Dallas  is  home.  Land 
ed  this  morning." 

A  light  came  into  the  Mayor's  tired  eyes  at 
the  news. 

"And  the  message?"  he  asked  eagerly. 

"That's  the  message.    She's  home." 

"She  sent  you  to  tell  me  that?" 

"No;  not  exactly  that,"  evaded  Perry,  wrig 
gling  uncomfortably. 

"Well,  what  was  her  message  then?" 

"She — she  didn't  send  any." 

"Then  who  sent  the  message  that  she  has 
come  home?" 

"Well,  the  fact  is  I  sent  it  myself.  That's 
why  I  brought  it." 

"Oh,  you  poor  idiot!"  laughed  Bennett. 
"The  same  old  excuse  in  a  new  shape  1  Well, 


The  New  Mayor.  69 

now  you're  here,  you  can  stay  just  five  min 
utes.  I'm  too  busy  to  play  with  little  boys 
to-day." 

"Little  boys!  I'll  be  twenty- two  next 
spring.  I— 

"Any  messages  while  I  was  out,  Miss  Gar 
rison?" 

"Yes,  one,"  answered  Cynthia.  "Your 
mother  telephoned  that  she  would  be  here  at 
half-past  two.  She  said  she  had  a  surprise 
for  you." 

"Say,"  remarked  Perry,  feeling  he  was  be 
ing  excluded  from  the  talk,  "I'd  go  easy  on 
that  surprise  if  I  were  you,  Alwyn.  I've  had 
surprises  over  the  telephone  myself,  and  they're 
punk.  Once  a  girl— 

"Alderman  Phelan  would  like  to  speak  to 
Your  Honor,"  said  Ingram,  the  old  doorkeep 
er,  popping  out  of  the  anteroom. 

"Show  him  in,"  answered  Bennett.  "Now, 
then,  Perry — 

"Were  you  about  to  ask  me  to  stay  a  while 
longer?"  asked  the  boy;  "because  I'm  sorry, 
but  I  can't.  Good-by.  Good-afternoon,  Miss 
Garrison.  Glad  you  liked  the  photo.  So  long. 
Maybe  I'll  bring  another  message  from  Dallas 
to-morrow." 

"What  can  Phelan  want  of  me,  I  wonder?" 
mused  Bennett,  half  aloud.  "He  and  I  scarce- 


70  The  New  Mayor. 

ly Good-afternoon,  Alderman!    I  think 

this  is  the  first  time  you've  honored  me  with  a 
visit." 

"Then  be  lenient  with  a  first  offense,  Your 
Honor,"  suggested  Phelan,  shaking  hands  with 
the  Mayor  and  nodding  pleasantly  to  Cynthia 
as  she  passed  out  to  her  own  office. 

"Something  important,  I  suppose/'  hazard 
ed  Bennett. 

"Maybe  it  is  important  and  maybe  it  isn't," 
returned  Phelan.  "It  all  depends  on  whether 
that  was  a  true  story  in  the  Chronicle  to-day 
about  your  vetoing  the  Borough  Street  Rail 
way  bill.  If  you've  really  vetoed  that  bill  all 
I'll  have  to  do  is  to  say,  'Sorry  I  can't  stay 
longer,'  and  get  out." 

"No,"  said  Bennett,  "that  announcement 
wasn't  authorized.  I  haven't  vetoed  the  Bor 
ough  Street  Railway  bill.  In  fact,  I  haven't 
made  public  any  decision  on  it.  Why?" 

"I'm  glad  to  hear  it,  and,  that  being  the 
case,  I'll  invite  myself  to  a  seat  and  stay  awhile. 
Say,  Your  Honor,  on  the  level,  that  Borough 
bill  was  the  rawest  thing  that  ever  came  across. 
Gee!  but  they  did  their  work  with  a  meat-axe!" 

"Then  you  weren't  one  of  the  Aldermen  who 
voted  for  it?" 

"Me?  Nothin'  doin'.  I  don't  belong  to 
Dick  Horrigan's  'solid  thirteen.'  He  can't 


The  New  Mayor.  71 

buy  and  sell  me  at  his  own  terms  like  ne  does 
them  thirteen  geezers." 

"And  yet,  Alderman,  from  your  reputa 
tion " 

"From  my  reputation  I'm  a  crook,  hey? 
Well,  there's  crooks  and  crooks.  And  I'm  one 
of  the  other  kind,  if  I'm  crooked  at  all,  which  I 
deny  most  enthoosiastically.  At  least  I  fol 
low  no  Horrigan  whistle." 

"Then  why  are  you  here  in  regard  to  the 
Borough  bill?" 

"Perhaps  it's  on  the  theory  of  'set  a  thief  to 
catch  a  thief.'  " 

"Well,"  laughed  Bennett,  amused  in  spite 
of  himself  by  the  Alderman's  frankness,  "at 
least  you  call  a  spade  a  spade." 

"I  sure  don't  refer  to  it  vague,  but  as  a 
'utensil.'  You  don't  need  any  foot-note  ex 
planations  in  one  syllable  when  Jimmy 
Phelan's  talking.  Every  move  a  picture.  If 
I  hadn't  been  through  the  game  from  shuffle 
to  cash  in,  would  I  be  wise  to  what  the  Horri 
gan  crowd  is  framing  up  on  you  now?  Say, 
I've  done  some  raw  work  in  my  time,  but  this 
Borough  business  is  the  coarsest  yet.  They 
must  think  you're  the  original  Mr,  Good 
Thing." 

"You  speak  as  if  I  were  to  be  made  respon 
sible  for " 


72  The  New  Mayor. 

"And  ain't  you?"  cried  Phelan.  "Sure  you 
are.  When  the  people  get  wise  to  what  they're 
up  against  and  commence  to  do  their  scream, 
will  they  remember  that  So-and-so  framed  the 
bill  and  that  such  and  such  Aldermen  voted 
for  it?  Not  them.  What  the  public  will  re 
member  is  that  you  signed  it.  It'll  go  screech- 
in'  down  the  corridors  of  time  as  'the  iniquitous 
Borough  Franchise  bill  that  Bennett  signed.' 
Catch  the  idea?" 

"Yes,"  said  Bennett  grimly,  "I  understand. 
But  what  I  don't  see  is  why  you  should  have 
taken  the  trouble  to  come  here  and  warn,  me 
of  this.  You've  never  shown  any  special  fond 
ness  for  me  hitherto." 

"That's  right;  but  I've  shown  bunches  of  un- 
fondness  for  Chesty  Dick  Horrigan.  And 
Horrigan's  the  man  who's  rushin'  the  Borough 
bill  through.  Lord,  what  a  bill!  It's  so 
crooked  that  if  it  was  laid  out  like  a  street  the 
man  who  tried  to  walk  along  it  would  meet 
himself  coming  back.  Why,  Your  Honor, 


"Mr.  Wainwright,  Your  Honor,"  said  In 
gram  at  the  door;  "says  he  won't  detain  you 
long." 

"Let  him  in  if  you  like,"  suggested  Phelan. 
"I  can  wait.  Shall  I  go  into  the  other— 


The  New  Mayor.  73 

"No.  Wait  here  if  you  choose.  His  busi 
ness  isn't  likely  to  be  private." 

"I'm  sorry  to  break  in  on  your  rush  hours," 
said  Wainwright  as  he  advanced  to  greet  the 
Mayor.  "I  won't  keep  you  long.  Good-after 
noon,  Alderman." 

"Howdy?"  returned  Phelan,  walking  over 
to  the  far  end  of  the  office,  where,  by  falling 
into  deep  and  admiring  study  of  a  particular 
ly  atrocious  portrait  of  some  earlier  Mayor,  he 
denoted  that  he  was  temporarily  out  of  the 
conversation. 

"I'll  come  to  the  point  at  once,  Mr.  Ben 
nett,"  began  Wainwright.  "I  called  to  see  you 
about  the  Borough  Street  Railway  bill." 

"That's  an  odd  coincidence,"  answered  Ben 
nett.  "I  was  going  to  call  you  up  this  after 
noon  and  ask  your  opinion  of  it.  What  do  you 
think  of  the  measure?" 

"What  does  he  think  of  it?"  muttered 
Phelan,  addressing  the  portrait  in  an  aside  that 
was  perfectly  audible.  "What  does  he  think 
of  it?  And  him  ownin'  the  rival  road!  Oh, 
easy!  Ask  him  a  real  hard  one!" 

"You're  mistaken,  Alderman,"  returned 
Wainwright  blandly.  "I  am  inclined  to  favor 
the  passage  of  the  Borough  bill." 

Phelan  shot  one  keen  glance  of  incredulity 


74  The  New  Mayor. 

at  the  financier,  then  wheeled  about  and  re 
sumed  his  rapt  study  of  the  portrait. 

"Yes,"  continued  Wainwright;  "I  admit 
that  my  City  Surface  Line  is,  in  a  way,  the 
rival  of  the  Borough  Street  Railway.  But  in 
a  big  city  like  this  there's  surely  room  for  both 
lines  to  carry  on  a  prosperous  business.  So 
why  should  they  try  to  injure  each  other?" 

"Why,  oh,  why?"  echoed  Phelan,  again  ad 
dressing  the  portrait.  "Can  I  be  gettin'  so  old 
that  I've  begun  hearin'  queer  things  that's 
never  said?" 

Wainwright  paid  no  heed  to  the  interpola 
tion,  but  went  on : 

"Of  course  the  franchise  will  be  a  good  thing 
for  the  Borough  road,  but  it  needn't  hurt  the 
City  Surface  Line.  Besides,  the  passing  of  the 
bill  made  Borough  stock  rise  from  63  to  81. 
Then  when  that  unauthorized  announcement 
was  made  to-day  that  Your  Honor  would  veto 
it,  the  stock  tumbled  from  81  to  73.  Just  see 
what  power  rests  with  you,  Mr.  Bennett!  If 
you  should  veto  the  bill  the  Borough  stock  will 
slump  to  almost  nothing.  Think  what  that 
will  mean  to  widows  and  orphans  and  all  sorts 
of  poor  people  who  have  invested  all  their  sav 
ings  in  that  stock!" 

"I'll  be  hearin'  harps  twangin'  next!" 
groaned  Phelan  in  wonder.  "Has  the  poor, 


The  New  Mayor.  75 

dear  man  got  swellin'  of  the  heart,  or  is  he 
maybe  the  advance  agent  of  the  millennium? 
To  think  of  old  Tightwad  Wainwright " 

Ingram  forestalled  any  reply  from  the 
financier  by  entering  with  the  tidings  that 
Thompson  was  in  the  anteroom  with  an  impor 
tant  message  for  Wainwright. 

"May  I  see  him  in  here?"  asked  the  visitor. 
"It  is  my  private  secretary  and— 

"Certainly,"  asserted  Bennett.  "Show  him 
in,  Ingram." 

"I'd  like  to  see  a  private  secretary  of  mine 
come  buttin'  in  like  this,"  confided  Phelan  to 
the  picture.  "I'd  chase  him  so  far  he'd  dis 
cover  a  new  street.  I'd— 

The  Alderman  broke  off  short.  His  eye 
had  fallen  on  Thompson  as  the  latter  entered. 
Phelan  stood  rigid,  with  mouth  open  and  eyes 
bulging,  taking  in  every  detail  of  the  quiet, 
pallid  young  man's  appearance.  The  secre 
tary,  meanwhile,  had  gone  up  to  Wainwright 
and  begun  to  deliver  his  message. 

"Mr.  Horrigan  called  you  up,  sir,"  said  he, 
"just  a  minute  or  so  after  you  left  the  office. 
He  wishes  you  to  come  and  see  him  iimnediate- 
ly,  if  possible." 

"All  right,"  answered  the  financier.  "I'll 
come  at  once.  I'm  sorry,  Your  Honor,  that 
I  am  called  away  just  now,  for  I'd  like  to  dis- 


76  The  New  Mayor. 

cuss  this  Borough  bill  further  with  you.  But 
what  I  wished  to  express  can  be  said  in  a  nut 
shell.  If  I,  who  own  the  rival  road,  am  in  favor 
of  granting  the  Borough  franchise,  I  can't  see 
why  any  one  else  should  object  to  it.  Come  on, 
Thompson.  Good-day,  Your  Honor.  Good- 
day,  Alderman." 

The  financier  passed  out.  Thompson  was 
following  when  Phelan,  who  had  never  once 
removed  his  eyes  from  the  secretary,  stepped 
in  front  of  him. 

"Well,  young  man!"  said  he. 

"Well,  sir?"  said  Thompson  in  mild  sur 
prise. 

"You  remember  me?" 

"I  don't  think  so,  sir." 

"H'm!  That's  queer!  I'm  Alderman 
Phelan  of  the  Eighth." 

"I've  read  about  you,  of  course,  sir,  but 
j " 

"But  you  don't  know  me?  Never  met  me 
before?" 

"I'm  sorry,  sir,  but  I  can't  recall  it  if  I  did. 
Good-day,  sir." 

The  secretary  hurried  out  after  his  employ 
er.  Phelan,  with  a  puzzled  shake  of  the  head, 
seemed  trying  to  solve  some  elusive  problem. 
But  Bennett,  who  had  not  noted  the  brief  scene 


The  New  Mayor.  77 

between  Thompson  and  the  Alderman,  broke 
in  on  the  latter's  musing  with  the  remark: 

"You  appeared  to  be  amazed  at  Mr.  Wain- 
wright's  attitude  toward  the  Borough  Street 
Railway  franchise." 

'  'Amazed'  is  a  mild,  gentle  word  for  my 
feeling,"  declared  the  Alderman.  "To  hear 
that  old  flint-heart  prattlin'  about  widows  and 
orphans  and  fair  play — why,  say,  Your  Honor 
— I  know  Charles  Wainwright  from  'way  back, 
and  I  tell  you  he  has  the  same  affection  for 
the  money  of  widows  and  orphans  that  a  tom 
cat  has  for  a  canary.  As  for  fair  play — he 
wouldn't  recognize  it  if  he  was  to  hear  it 
through  a  megaphone.  He's  up  to  something ! 
I  don't  know  just  what,  but  I'll " 

"Come!  come!"  remonstrated  Bennett  good- 
humoredly.  "I'm  sure  you  do  Wainwright  an 
in j  ustice.  He ' ' 

"He's  a  fine  old  bird!  Do  you  chance  to 
remember  the  Garrison  case,  nine  years  back? 
President  Garrison  of  the  Israel  Putnam  Trust 
Company— 

"Who  shot  himself  after  being  ruined  by  a 
financier  who  was  his  dearest  friend?  Yes. 
What  has  that  to  do  with " 

"With  Wainwright?  Oh,  nothin'  much. 
Only  Wainwright  happened  to  be  the  finan 
cier." 


78  The  New  Mayor. 

"No!    You  must  be  mistaken.'* 

"Am  I?  I  ought  to  know  something  about 
it.  I  was  Chief  of  Police  at  the  time  and  han 
dled  the  case.  It  was  I  who  suppressed  Wain- 
wright's  name.  For  a  small  consideration 


"Wainwright!"  gasped  Bennett.  "Of  all 
men!  But- 

"So  you  see  why  I  coppered  the  'mercy'  and 
'fair  play'  cards  when  he  dealt  'em  just  now," 
purred  Phelan.  "There's  something  big  be 
hind  this  talk  of  his  in  favor  of  the  Borough 
bill.  Wasn't  it  at  his  house  last  summer  that 
Horrigan  offered  you  the  nomination?  That's 
the  story.  And " 

"Yes;  on  the  25th  of  July.    He ." 

"The  25th  of  July,  hey?  That  was  the  day 
he  had  me  out  there.  The  day  I  met  that  feller 
Gibbs.  By  the  way,  Your  Honor,  the  papers 
say  it's  Gibbs's  firm  that's  buyin'  all  that  Bor 
ough  stock.  They've  been  buyin'  it  up,  on  the 
quiet,  for  months.  I  begin  to  see  a  lot  of  fun 
ny  little  lights  that  make  this  thing  clearer. 
Gibbs  is  buyin'  Borough  stock.  He's  Wain- 
wright's  chum.  Horrigan  and  Wainwright 
frame  up  your  nomination.  Then,  the  minute 
you  come  into  power,  this  Borough  Franchise 
bill  is  flashed  on  you  by  Horrigan,  an'  Wain 
wright  begs  you  to  sign  it.  Take  my  tip — - 


The  New  Mayor.  79 

Wainwright  owns  the  Borough  road,  as  well 
as  the  City  Surface.  And  Horrigan's  gettin' 
a  fat  swad  of  stock  for  arrangin'  the  franchise. 
Oh,  they've  got  Your  Honor  all  tied  up  in  rib 
bons,  like  you  was  a  measly  bookay.  You  and 
me  ought  to  get  together  and  fight  this  thing 
out,  side  by  side.  An'  when  once  I  get  the 
Indian  sign  on  Dick  Horrigan— 

"But  I've  no  personal  quarrel  with  Horri 
gan.  He- 

" You've  the  same  quarrel  with  him  that  the 
pigeon  has  with  the  muskrat.  If  you  don't  use 
your  wings  you'll  be  swallowed.  Let  me  put 
you  on  to  a  few  of  the  little  jokers  in  that  bill 
of  his.  You  see— 

"I  see  more  about  that  bill  than  you  think," 
interposed  Bennett.  "I've  worked  over  it 
night  after  night  with  my  lawyer.  Don't  you 
get  the  idea  I've  been  asleep  just  because  I 
haven't  been  making  any  premature  disturb 
ance." 

"I  think,"  observed  Phelan  slowly — "I  think 
I'm  beginnin'  to  get  a  new  line  on  you  and 
understand  you  better.  If  it's  any  joy  to 
you  to  know  it,  Jimmy  Phelan  said:  'You're 
all  right!'" 

He  held  out  his  hand,  and  Bennett  gripped 
it  cordially. 

"I'm  glad  we  had  this  talk,  Alderman,"  said 


80  The  New  Mayor. 

he.  "We  are  fighting  from  different  points  of 
view,  but  our  main  object  is  the  same.  I  think 
we  can  pull  together  on  this  matter." 

"We  sure  can!"  agreed  Phelan.  "An*  as 
for  Horrigan,  when  I'm  done  with  him  he'll 
be  rolled  up  in  a  nice  bundle  and  I'll  print  on 
it  in  big  letters:  'Use  all  the  hooks  you  like!' ' 

"Mrs.  Bennett,  sir,"  said  Ingram. 

"I  thought  you  was  single!"  exclaimed 
Phelan. 

"It's  my  mother.    Show  her  in." 

From  the  musty  antechamber  came  the 
rustle  of  feminine  attire,  and  Mrs.  Bennett 
came  in.  Devoted  as  he  was  to  his  mother, 
Alwyn  now  had  no  eyes  for  her,  for  over  her 
shoulder  he  had  caught  a  glimpse  of  another 
face. 


ALDERMAN     PHELAN     TELLS    HOW    HE    "PICNICS 
HIS   CONSTITUENTS  IN  SUMMER,  AND  *'  TUR 
KEYS  "  THEM   IN   WINTER. — Page  82. 


CHAPTER  V. 

IN  TROUBLED  WATERS. 

"DALLAS!"  cried  Bennett,  oblivious  of  his 
surroundings — of  everything  except  that  the 
girl  he  had  so  long  missed,  and  who  had  in 
spired  him  to  all  he  had  achieved — was  stand 
ing  before  him.- 

It  was  Dallas  herself  who  brought  him  to  a 
sense  of  the  others'  presence.  For,  as  he  sprang 
forward  to  meet  her  and  eagerly  grasped  both 
her  outstretched  hands,  the  girl  bowed  in  mock 
reverence  and  answered  his  ardent  greeting 
with  a  demure — 

"Good-afternoon,  Your  Honor!" 

"Don't!"  he  begged,  half  in  jest.  "It's  so 
good  to  see  you  again  that  I 

"I  sent  word  that  I  had  a  surprise  for  you, 
Alwyn,"  interrupted  his  mother.  "I  knew  it 
would  please  you.  But,"  with  a  glance  at  the 
Alderman,  "you're  busy?  Perhaps  we— 

"Not  at  all,  mother.  May  I  present  Alder 
man  Phelan?  Miss  Wainwright,  this  is " 

81 


82  The  New  Mayor. 

"Alderman  Phelan,  of  the  Eighth,"  amend 
ed  the  politician,  thoroughly  ill  at  ease  in  the 
presence  of  the  visitors.  "I  must  be  goin'  now, 
Your  Honor.  I— 

But  Dallas  had  come  forward  with  a  smile 
that  melted  the  speaker's  embarrassment  in 
an  instant. 

"The  Alderman  Phelan  who  gives  turkeys 
to  all  those  poor  people  at  Christmas?"  she 
asked  in  genuine  interest.  "I've  often  read 
about- 

"The  same,  ma'am,  at  your  service,"  assent 
ed  the  delighted  Phelan.  "I  fill  'em  with  tur 
key  and  coal  in  winter  and  I  take  their  wives 
and  kids  on  outings  in  summer.  Ever  been 
to  one  of  the  James  Q.  Phelan  outings,  miss?" 

"No,"  replied  Dallas,  with  a  perfectly  grave 
face.  "I'm  sorry  to  say  I  haven't.  Tell  me 
about  them,  won't  you?" 

"They've  got  to  be  seen  to  be  understood. 
A  thousand  poor  tired  wives  and  white-faced, 
spindly  kids  turned  out  into  the  country  for 
the  only  glimpse  of  green  grass  and  shady  trees 
they  ever  get  all  year.  A  thousand  mothers 
and  children  out  in  a  cool  grove  with  nothing 
to  do  but  roll  around  the  soft  grass  and  play 
and  eat  all  the  fancy  grub  they  can  hold.  May 
be,  miss,  it  wouldn't  mean  a  lot  to  you,  but  if 
you'd  been  workin'  twelve  months  in  a  stuffy, 


The  New  Mayor.  83 

dark,  smelly  back  tenement  room,  toilin'  like 
a  slave  to  keep  food  an'  clothes  betwixt  the  kids 
an'  starvation,  an'  was  barely  able  to  keep  body 
an'  soul  together — well,  maybe  then  you'd  un 
derstand  what  them  outings  an'  turkey-fests 
an'  loads  of  coal  means  to  the  poor;  an'  they 
won't  turn  down  Jimmy  Phelan  at  Horrigan's 
orders." 

"I  do  understand,"  cried  Dallas,  her  big  eyes 
bright  with  tears.  "I  understand,  and,  in  be 
half  of  all  women  and  children,  I  thank  you 
with  my  whole  heart!" 

"You're  all  right,  miss!"  muttered  the  de 
lighted,  embarrassed  Phelan,  at  once  at  a  loss 
for  words.  "You're — you're  all  right!  I'll 
leave  it  to  His  Honor  if— 

"Indeed  she  is!"  broke  in  a  suave  voice,  at 
whose  sound  the  little  spell  of  sentiment  was 
broken  and  which  caused  Phelan  and  Bennett 
to  turn  in  annoyance  toward  the  door. 

Scott  Gibbs,  bland,  well-groomed,  quite  ig 
noring  the  other  men's  lack  of  welcome,  stood 
bowing  on  the  threshold. 

"Oh,  I  forgot  to  tell  you,  Alwyn,"  whispered 
Mrs.  Bennett  in  a  hurried  aside  to  her  son,  as 
the  latter  summoned  up  sufficient  civility  to 
greet  the  newcomer — "I  forgot  to  tell  you. 
Mr.  Gibbs  was  calling  on  Dallas  when  I 


84  The  New  Mayor. 

stopped  for  her,  and  he  asked  leave  to  come 
along.  I'm  sorry,  but ' 

"How  are  you,  Bennett?"  Gibbs  was  say 
ing.  "And— Mr.  Phelan,  too,  isn't  it?  Alder 
man,  I'm  glad  to  see  you  again.  You  remem 
ber  me?  Scott  Gibbs?  I  met " 

"Yes,"  said  Phelan;  "I  remember  you,  all 
right.  You  was  up  to  Wainwright's  last  sum 
mer,  that  day  me  an'  Horrigan  sent  the  dove 
of  peace  screechin'  up  a  tree.  I  didn't  know 
you  visited  the  City  Hall,  too." 

"I  don't,  as  a  rule,"  answered  Gibbs.  "I 
came  here  with  Mrs.  Bennett  and  Miss  Wain- 
wright.  I  wranted  a  glimpse  of  the  man  who 
can  make  one  pen-stroke  that  will  send  Bor 
ough  Street  Railway  stock  up  to  100  or  down 
to  10." 

"Do  you  mean,"  broke  in  Dallas,  "that  Mr. 
Bennett  can  really  have  such  an  effect  on  the 
stock  market?" 

"That  and  more,"  Gibbs  assured  her.  "Why, 
the  mere  rumor  that  he  meant  to  veto  the  Bor 
ough's  Franchise  bill  has  sent  the  stock  tum 
bling  eight  points  since  the  market  opened  to 
day." 

"What  power  for  one  man!"  exclaimed  the 
girl,  turning  to  Bennett  in  surprise.  "And 
are  you  going  to  veto  it?" 


The  New  Mayor.  85 

"Office  secrets,"  reproved  Alwyn  jestingly. 
"Hands  off!" 

"Veto  it!"  echoed  Gibbs  with  a  laugh.  "Of 
course  he  isn't.  It  would  be  too  hard  upon  his 
friends — unfair  and  unkind,  to  say  the  least." 

"But  why?"  queried  Dallas,  forestalling  Al 
wyn,  who  was  about  to  speak. 

"Because,"  cut  in  Gibbs,  before  Bennett 
could  interfere,  "the  men  who  are  backing  the 
Borough  bill  are  the  men  who  made  him 
Mayor.  It  wouldn't  be  square  for  him  to  turn 
his  new  power  against  the  very  men  who  gave 
him  that  power.  Now,  would  it?" 

"By  'the  men  who  are  backing  the  bill* 
whom  do  you  mean?"  asked  Bennett. 

"Oh,  I  just  spoke  in  generalities.  As  a  mat 
ter  of  fact,  the  break  in  the  price  to-day  was 
lucky  for  those  who  wanted  to  buy." 

"An'  your  firm's  doin'  most  of  the  buy  in', 
I'm  told,"  interpolated  Phelan. 

"We  have  a  great  deal  of  the  stock,  I  ad 
mit,"  said  Gibbs.  "So  you  see,  Bennett,  you 
can  make  me  or  break  me.  I  place  myself  in 
your  hands." 

"I  see  you  are  taking  a  most  unfair  advan 
tage  of  me,  Mr.  Gibbs,"  retorted  Alwyn  with 
some  heat.  "You  have  no  right  to  thrust  this 
information  on  me  and  to  appeal 

"But  I  was  only " 


86  The  New  Mayor. 

"You  were  trying  to  influence  my  action  to 
ward  the  Borough  bill.  You  cannot  do  it." 

"Why,  I  didn't  think  you'd  be  angry 
at- 

"I'm  not.    Let's  drop  the  subject,  please." 

"I  only  answered  Miss  Wainwright's  ques 
tions.  I- 

"We'll  leave  Miss  Wainwright's  name  out 
of  the  matter,"  replied  Bennett. 

"Certainly,  if  you  like,"  assented  Gibbs,  with 
a  shrug  of  his  broad  shoulders.  "I  am  afraid 
my  time  is  up.  Good-day,  Bennett.  I'm  sor 
ry  you  misconstrued " 

"I  didn't.    Good-day." 

"I'll  be  on  my  way,  too,"  announced  Phelan, 
breaking  the  awkward  pause  that  followed 
Gibbs's  exit.  "Ladies,  I'm  proud  to  have  met 
you.  If  either  of  you  knows  a  poor  woman 
needin'  a  turkey,  or  a  family  wantin'  an  out 
ing,  just  drop  me  a  line,  and  I'll  see  they  get 
it.  An'  they  needn't  come  from  my  ward, 
neither." 

"That's  bad  politics,  Alderman!"  laughed 
Bennett. 

"It's  good  humanity,  though.  There's  two 
things  I  love  to  do:  First,  to  down  the  man 
who's  me  enemy,  an'  second,  to  give  good  times 
to  folks  who's  strangers  to  fun.  Good-by, 


The  New  Mayor.  87 

Your  Honor;  I'll  be  in  agin,  now  I've  found 
my  way.  Good-by,  ladies." 

"Alwyn,"  said  Mrs.  Bennett,  as  the  Alder 
man  bowed  himself  out  with  many  flourishes, 
"I  want  to  see  Cynthia.  Can  I  go  into  her 
office  now,  or  is  she  too  busy?  I'll  be  back  in 
a  few  minutes,  Dallas,  and  bring  her  with  me. 
I  know  how  anxious  she  is  to  see  you  again." 

"I  wonder  what  Phelan  would  think  of  that 
for  'raw'  work!"  thought  Alwyn,  as  the  old 
lady  bustled  into  the  inner  room,  leaving  Dal 
las  and  himself  alone.  Perhaps  Dallas,  too, 
understood,  for  her  manner  was  less  assured 
than  usual  as  her  eyes  met  his. 

"It  is  so  good — so  good  to  see  you  again," 
he  said.  "It  seems  years  instead  of  months 
since  you  went  away." 

"But  how  splendidly  you've  filled  the  time! 
And  what  a  magnificent  fight  you  made!  I 
was  so  proud  of  you,  Alwyn!" 

"Really?  I  remember  you  once  said  I  was 
a  mere  idler — a  rich  man's  son — and  that  you 
weren't  at  all  proud  of  me." 

"That  is  past.  We  must  forget  it.  You 
are  awake  now." 

"Forget  it?  Not  for  worlds!  I  owe  all  my 
success  to  you,  Dallas.  It  was  your  face  that 
strengthened  me  when  there  seemed  no  hope. 
It  was  the  memory  of  your  words  that  kept  me 


88  The  New  Mayor. 

brave  and  made  me  resolve  to  win  against  all 
odds.  You  were  my  inspiration,  the  light  in 
my  darkness.  At  each  step  I  thought  'Dallas 
would  be  glad,'  or  'Dallas  would  not  approve 
of  this.'  And  I  steered  my  course  accordingly 
— to  victory." 

"No,  no!"  murmured  the  girl.  "It  was  your 
own  courage — your  strength — 

"Not  mine.  It  was  your  faith  in  me.  Do 
you  know,  I  think  no  man  ever  accomplishes 
anything  by  himself.  There's  always  a  wom 
an,  I  think,  behind  every  great  achievement. 
The  world  at  large  does  not  see  her — but  she's 
in  the  heart  of  every  man  who  is  making  the 
fight.  He  battles  in  her  name  as  did  the 
knights  of  old.  And  the  triumph  is  hers,  not 
his.  Whether  his  reward  is  the  crown  of  love 
or  the  crown  of  thorns,  she  is  the  inspiration." 

"Then  if  I  had  a  share  in  your  success,  I  am 
very  happy,  Alwyn.  For  your  name  is  in  every 
mouth.  You  are  the  man  of  the  hour.,  even 
as  you  were  in  the  olden  days  on  the  football 
field.  Oh,  I  am  proud  of  you!  Very,  very 
proud.  There  is  a  glorious  future  before  you." 

"That  all  rests  in  your  dear  hands,"  cried 
Alwyn. 

"Future  or  present,  Dallas,  it's  all  the  same ; 
if  only  you ' 

"Say,  Bennett!"  roared  a  deep  voice  as  the 


The  New  Mayor.  89 

v-   ' 

door  from  the  outer  office  was  banged  open 
and  Kerrigan,  red-faced  and  angry,  burst  in, 

"I  understand  that  you've Oh,  I  didn't 

know  you  had  a  lady  calling  on  you,"  he  broke 
off. 

"Well,  I  have,"  retorted  Bennett,  furious  at 
the  untimely  intrusion.    "Ingram  should  have 

v  <U 

told  you  that  at  the  door." 

"I  don't  stop  to  hear  what  folks  tell  me  at 
doors.    I'll  wait  outside  till  you're  alone." 
"Don't  trouble  to  wait.    Good-by  I" 
"You  can  bet  I'll  trouble  to  wait,"  snarled 
Horrigan.  "There's  something  you  and  I  have 
got  to  settle  to-day.    Understand  ?  I'll  be  out 
side.    Don't  keep  me  waiting  long!" 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  MAYOR  AND  THE  BOSS. 

"WHAT  a  strange  man!"  exclaimed  Dallas 
Wainwright  in  wonder,  as  the  anteroom  door 
slammed  behind  the  Boss.  "And  what  utter 
ly  abominable  manners!  Who  is  he,  Alwyn?" 

"Homgan." 

"Richard  Horrigan,  the— 

"The  Boss.  Yes.  He  has  a  pleasing  way 
of  stamping  into  this  office,  unasked,  as  if  he 
owned  it  and  as  if  I  were  his  clerk.  But  to 
day's  behavior  was  the  worst  yet.  It's  got  to 
stop!" 

"But  don't  do  or  say  anything  reckless,  Al 
wyn  !  Promise  me.  Remember  how  strong  he 
is!" 

"There  is  no  danger  of  his  letting  me  forget 
his  power,"  said  Bennett  with  a  bitter  smile. 

«TT  » 

Jtie 

"But  you'll  be  careful,  won't  you?  Please 
do!  For  my  sake.  And  you  mustn't  keep 
him  waiting  if  there's  a  way  out  through  Cyn- 

90 


The  New  Mayor.  91 

thia's  office.  We'll  go  by  that.  Good-by.  I'll 
explain  to  your  mother.  Office  business  must 
come  first.  Won't  you  call  this  evening?  I'll 
be  home  and  alone." 

Despite  Bennett's  remonstrances  she  was 
firm;  and  it  was  in  no  pleasant  frame  of  mind 
that  the  Mayor  threw  himself  into  a  seat  when 
he  was  left  alone  in  the  room.  That  the  talk 
with  Dallas,  which  had  promised  so  much  for 
him,  should  be  thus  rudely  interrupted. 
That—  Horrigan  flung  open  the  door  and 
stamped  in.  The  Boss's  anger  had  by  no  means 
subsided,  in  the  few  moments  of  delay,  but 
had  rather  grown  until  it  vibrated  in  his  every 
word  and  gesture.  He  wasted  no  time  in  for 
malities,  but  came  to  the  point  with  all  the 
tender  grace  and  tact  of  a  pile-driver. 

"Look  here,  Bennett,"  he  rumbled,  menace 
underlying  tone  and  look.  "I'm  told  Phelan's 
been  here  this  afternoon.  What  did  he  want?" 

"To  see  me,"  answered  Bennett  calmly,  the 
effort  at  self-control  visible  only  in  the  whiten 
ing  of  the  knuckles  that  gripped  the  desk  edge, 

"What  did  he  want  to  see  you  about?" 

"A  business  matter." 

"What  business  matter?" 

"Mine." 

"Yours,  eh?"  sneered  Horrigan.  "Well, 
young  man,  I  want  you  to  understand  here 


92  The  New  Mayor. 

and  now,  that  no  one  can  be  chummy  with  Jim 
Phelan  and  be  my  man  at  the  same  time.  Got 
that  through  your  head?" 

"Yes,"  assented  Bennett,  "I  think  I  have. 
And,  while  we're  speaking  plainly,  I  want  you 
to  understand,  here  and  now,  that  no  one  can 
bully  me,  either  here  or  elsewhere,  and  that 
I'm  no  man's  man.  Have  you  got  that  through 
your  head?" 

ITorrigan  starea  in  savage  amazement.  He 
doubted  if  his  ears  had  not  played  him  false. 
Bennett  had  always  treated  the  Boss  with  uni 
form  courtesy  and  Horrigan  belonged  to  the 
too-numerous  class  who  do  not  understand 
until  too  late  the  difference  between  gentle 
breeding  and  weak  cowardice.  That  a  man 
should  speak  to  him  courteously  and  not  inter 
lard  his  talk  with  oaths,  obscenity  or  roughness, 
seemed  to  Horrigan,  as  it  does  to  many  an 
other  boor,  an  evidence  of  timidity  and  lack  of 
virility.  A  Damascus  blade  is  a  far  more  harm 
less-looking  weapon  than  a  bludgeon,  yet  it  is 
capable,  when  the  necessity  arises,  of  far  dead 
lier  work. 

It  is  only  the  man  whose  gentleness  has  not 
granite  strength  as  its  foundation,  who  de 
serves  the  newly-popular  term  of  "mollycod 
dle." 

Had  Horrigan's  large  experience  with  men 


The  New  Mayor.  93 

been  extended  to  embrace  this  fact  he  would 
probably  never  have  picked  out  Alwyn  Ben 
nett,  in  the  first  place,  as  a  candidate  for 
Mayor,  nor  deemed  the  younger  man  a  fit  tool 
for  the  organization's  crooked  work.  The 
French  nobles  of  the  old  regime,  whose  polish 
of  manner  was  the  envy  of  the  world,  fought 
like  devils  on  occasion  and  went  to  death  on  the 
scaffold  with  a  smile  and  a  jest  on  their  lips; 
while  many  a  brutal  demagogue,  in  the  same 
circumstances,  broke  down  and  screamed  for 
mercy.  However,  Horrigan  chanced  to  be 
more  familiar  with  the  history  of  the  organiza 
tion  than  with  that  of  France.  Hence,  deem 
ing  Bennett's  reply  a  mere  sporadic  flash  of  de 
fiance  from  a  properly  cowed  spirit,  he  resolved 
to  crush  the  rebellion  at  a  blow. 

"Don't  give  me  any  insolence!"  he  roared. 
"I  won't  stand  for  it  and " 

"Moreover,"  quietly  continued  Bennett,  as 
though  the  Boss  had  not  spoken,  "I  shall  be 
very  much  obliged  if,  in  future,  you  will  knock 
at  my  door  instead  of  bursting  in  on  me.  This 
is  my  private  office,  not  yours." 

"Do  you  mean  to " 

"I've  explained  as  clearly  as  I  can  just  what 
I  mean.  If  you  don't  understand  me  I  can't 
supply  you  with  intelligence." 

"Bennett,"  said  the  Boss,  his  burning  rage 


94  The  New  Mayor. 

steadied  down  to  a  white  heat,  far  more  dan 
gerous  but  less  incoherent,  "you  and  me  are 
talking  too  much  and  saying  too  little.  We've 
got  to  come  to  a  show-down.  You're  a  clever 
boy  and  you  made  a  rattling  good  fight,  and 
you're  on  the  right  side  of  the  public  and  of 
the  press,  too.  You're  the  best  material  we've 
got,  and  if  you  try  and  do  the  right  thing, 
there's  no  limit  to  what  you  can  rise  to.  But 
only  if  you  do  the  right  thing." 

'"The  right  thing?'"  echoed  Bennett. 
"What  do  you  mean  by  the  right  thing?" 

"I  mean  you've  got  to  do  the  right  thing  by 
the  men  who  put  you  where  you  are  to-day." 

"That's  fair;  but  who  'put  me  where  I  am 
to-day?'  " 

"I  did — I,  Dick  Horrigan!  Whoever  heard 
of  you  till  I  took  you  up?  Nobody.  If  I 
didn't  make  you  Mayor,  who  did,  I'd  like  to 
know?" 

"The  voters.    The  people  of  this  city." 

"The  voters!"  scoffed  Horrigan;  "the  deuce 
they  did!  Who  had  you  nominated?" 

"You  did;  but  it  was  the  public  who  elected 
me,  and  I'm  going  to  obey  your  orders  in  one 
thing — I'm  going  to  'do  the  right  thing  by  the 
men  who  put  me  where  I  am  to-day.'  I'm 
going  to  pay  the  voters  for  their  trust  in  me 
by  giving  them  a  fair  and  square  admmistra- 


The  New  Mayor.  95 

tion.  In  the  case  of  this  Borough  Street  Rail 
way  Franchise  bill,  for  instance,"  tapping  the 
document  lying  before  him  on  his  desk,  "be 
fore  I  sign  that  bill  I  intend  to  make  sure  it's 
for  the  good  of  the  people,  that  it  is  for  the 
good  of  the  city,  not  merely  for  the  good  of 
Richard  Horrigan  and  a  clique  of  his  friends 
and  heelers.  Isro,  don't  swear!  It'll  do  you 
no  good.  I'm  firm  on  this  matter.  If  you're 
discontented  with  me,  it's  your  own  fault.  I 
warned  you  months  ago  that  if  I  was  elected 
I  should  keep  my  oath  of  office.  As  for  this 
Borough  bill— 

"As  for  this  Borough  bill,"  broke  in  Horri 
gan  savagely,  "you'll  sign  it.  If  you 
don't- 

"Well?"  queried  Bennett,  as  the  Boss 
paused,  choked  by  his  own  fury.  "If  I  don't 
sign  it — what  then?" 

"If  you  don't,  your  political  career  is  ended 
from  this  time  on.  See?  It's  ended!  Smashed 
flat!  You  think  of  yourself  as  a  fine,  promis 
ing  young  man  who's  on  the  road  to  the  Gov 
ernorship  and  maybe  to  the  White  House. 
Well,  you  aren't.  You're  what  Dick  Horri 
gan  made  you.  And  your  future  will  be  what 
Dick  Horrigan  chooses  to  make  it.  I  lifted 
you  up  and  I  can  tear  you  down  just  as  easy. 
And,  what's  more,  by ,  I'll  do  it  if  you 


96  The  New  Mayor. 

don't  sign  the  Borough  bill.  I'm  a  man  of  my 
word,  and  before  ever  you  were  nominated  I 
pledged  my  word  to  have  that  bill  put  through. 
The  bill  paid  your  election  expenses.  It 

"I  paid  my  own  election  expenses.  You 
know  that." 

"Your  personal  expenses,  perhaps.  But 
who  paid  for  parades,  halls,  banners,  fireworks, 
speakers,  advertisements,  workers  and  watch 
ers  and  all  the  other  million  things  that  elected 
you?  The  men  behind  that  Borough  bill  paid 
them.  And  they  did  it  on  the  understanding 
that  you'd  sign  the  bill." 

"In  other  words,"  remarked  Bennett,  "you 
made  a  bargain  for  me,  but  you  can't  keep  it." 

"Oh,  I'll  keep  it  all  right.  You'll  sign  that 
bill,  or  you'll- 

"Mr.  Horrigan,"  exclaimed  Bennett,  con 
trolling  his  temper  with  more  and  more  diffi 
culty,  "you  said  something  just  now  about  our 
coming  to  a  show-down.  This  is  the  time  for 
it.  I  want  you  to  remember  henceforth  that  I 
wear  no  man's  collar — yours  or  any  one  else's 
—and  that  you  can't  deliver  any  goods  you've 
bargained  for  in  my  name.  If  I  sign  that  bill 
it  won't  be  under  your  orders,  but  because  I 
think  it  right." 

"Oh!"  laughed  Horrigan,  who  thought  he 
began  to  see  the  drift  of  the  other's  mind.  "I 


BENNETT  LAYS  DOWN  THE  LAW  TO  THE  ASTONISHED 
BOSS.   HORRIGAN.— Page  96- 


The  New  Mayor.  97 

don't  hold  out  for  that.  "I  don't  care  why  you 
sign  it  as  long  as  you  do  sign  it.'* 

"What  do  you  think  about  the  bill  yourself?" 
inquired  Alwyn.  "Do  you  consider  it  honest?" 

"What  do  I  care?  It's  got  to  be  signed 
and " 

"I  care;  and  I  think  the  bill  is  fraudulent." 

"Getting  tender  in  the  conscience,  aren't 
you?  Well " 

"If  you  put  it  that  way,  yes.  I  think  this 
Borough  bill  is  crooked  from  first  to  last. 
But- 

" What's  the  matter  with  it?    Ain't " 

"Let  me  explain,"  pursued  Alwyn.  "This 
bill  gives  the  Borough  Street  Railway  Com 
pany  the  right  to  use  whatever  motive  power 
they  choose  to.  It  gives  them  the  right  to 
charge  five-cent  fares  without  any  transfers. 
In  one  paragraph  there's  a  clause  permitting 
them  to  build  a  subway  if  they  want  one.  By 
another  paragraph's  concessions  they  can  build 
a  conduit  and  lease  it  out  for  telephone  or  tele 
graph  wires.  By  another  they  can  do  an  ex 
press  business.  But  all  these  provisions  are  as 
nothing  compared  to  the  fact  that  the  bill  gives 
the  streets  above  and  below  ground  to  the  Bor 
ough  Company  forever  and  ever — not  for  a 
term  of  years,  but  until  the  end  of  the  world. 
It  delivers  that  route  to  the  company  not  only 


98  The  New  Mayor. 

for  our  time,  but  for  always,  and  binds  us  and 
our  descendants  to  its  terms.  That  is  the  chief 
outrage  of  the  whole  thing.  To  think  that 
the- 

"Oh,  we've  got  a  howling  reformer  in  the 
Mayor's  chair,  have  we?"  scoffed  Horrigan. 
"If  I'd  known  that " 

"The  people  have  got  a  man  who  is  trying 
to  protect  their  rights  and  property.  Here's  a 
letter  I  received  to-day.  You'll  recognize  the 
name  of  the  capitalist  who  wrote  it.  You  know 
he  is  honest  as  well  as  wise.  This  is  his  proposi 
tion:  He  will  pay  $2,000,000  for  that 
same  franchise,  give  the  city  10  per  cent,  of 
the  gross  receipts  and  turn  over  the  whole  plant 
to  it  at  the  end  of  fifty  years.  What  do  you 
think  of  that?" 

"It's  a  fake." 

"It  is  a  bona-fide  offer.  He  volunteers  to 
deposit  $1,000,000  to  bind  the  bargain.  Now, 
what  I  want  to  ask  you,  Mr.  Horrigan,  is  this : 
If  the  franchise  is  worth  $2,000,000,  why  are 
you  and  your  faction  in  the  Board  of  Alder 
men  so  anxious  to  give  it  away  for  nothing?" 

"Look  here!"  blustered  the  Boss.    "I- 

"I  am  looking,"  retorted  Bennett;  "I've 
been  looking  deeper  into  it  than  you  realize.  I 
asked  you  a  question  just  now.  I'll  answer  it 
myself  in  one  word:  'Graft!'  That  is  why  you 


The  New  Mayor.  99 

want  to  give  away  a  franchise  that  is  worth 
$2,000,000." 

"Graft!"  snorted  Horrigan  contemptuously. 
"The  same  old  reformer  howl!  What's  your 
idea  of  graft,  anyway?" 

"Graft  is  unearned  increment.  Money  to 
which  the  recipient  has  no  legal  or  moral  right. 
That  is- 

"So!  Then  show  me  the  man  who  ain't  a 
grafter!  A  lawyer  shows  his  client  how  to 
evade  the  law,  and  he  takes  a  fee  for  doing  it. 
What's  that  but  graft?  A  magazine  takes  pay 
for  printing  an  advertisement  its  editors  know 
is  a  fake.  What's  that?  Graft!  When  a  Con 
gressman  votes  for  an  appropriation  because 
another  Congressman  has  agreed  to  vote  for 
one  of  his,  what's  that?  Graft!  When  a 
five-thousand-a-year  Senator  retires  at  the  end 
of  ten  years  worth  a  million,  what's  that? 
Graft !  A  police  captain  on  $2,750  a  year  buys 
yachts  and  country  estates.  Graft!  How 
about  the  railroad  president  who  gets  stock 
free  in  a  corporation  that  ships  over  his  road? 
Or  the  insurance  man  or  banker  who  gives  or 
takes  fat  loans  on  fancy  securities  and  clears 
1,000  per  cent.?  Grafters,  all  of 'em!  Graft 
ers  1  Every  one  grafts  who  can  or  who  isn't 
too  stupid.  Show  me  a  man  who  doesn't  graft 


100  The  New  Mayor. 

and  I'll  show  you  a  fool!    Present  company 
not  excepted." 

"That's  where  you're  wrong,"  returned  Al- 
wyn,  ignoring  the  slur  and  speaking  with  a 
judicial  quiet  oddly  at  contrast  with  the  Boss's 
vehemence.  "The  man  who  said  'Honesty  is 
the  best  policy*  knew  what  he  was  talking 
about.  It  pays  best  not  only  hereafter  but  here 
as  well.  Why  did  Missouri  choose  Folk  for 
Governor?  Because,  in  spite  of  his  faults,  he 
is  honest.  Why  was  La  Follette  sent  to  the 
Senate  from  Wisconsin?  Because,  faults  and 
all,  he  was  honest.  Why  did  the  people  of  this 
country  make  Roosevelt  their  President? 
Were  they  blind  to  his  faults  and  foibles  ?  No ; 
but  they  knew  he  was  honest!  I  am  honest. 
This  bill  isn't.  That  is  why  I  won't  sign  it." 

"You  won't,  eh?"  roared  Horrigan.  "Then 
veto  it!  Veto  it,  if  you  dare.  I'll  not  only 
smash  your  political  career,  but  I'll  pass  the 
bill  over  your  veto.  That'll  show  you  pretty 
well  how  you  and  me  stand  as  to  power  in  this 
city.  I'll  make  you  the  laughing-stock  of  the 
administration  by  taking  the  whole  thing  out 
of  your  hands  and  passing  it  in  spite  of  you." 

"I  doubt  it,"  answered  Bennett,  paling,  but 
meeting  coolly  the  fiery  wrath  in  Horrigan's 
little  red  eyes.  "I  intend  to  fight  your  Bor 
ough  bill  in  the  Aldermanic  Council  and  out- 


The  New  Mayor.  101 

side  that  Council.  To  pass  a  bill  over  my  veto 
you'll  have  to  get  a  two-thirds  majority.  That 
means  fourteen  votes.  You  have  only  your 
'solid  thirteen.'  And  I'll  make  it  my  business 
to  see  you  don't  get  a  fourteenth  vote." 

"I'll  look  out  for  that,  all  right,  all  right!" 

"One  thing  more,  Mr.  Horrigan.  I  have 
reason  to  believe  there  is  bribery  in  this  matter. 
I'll  ferret  out  the  name  of  every  man  who  gives 
or  takes  a  bribe  in  connection  with  the  Bor 
ough  Franchise  bill,  and  I'll  send  every  one  of 
them  to  jail.  Not  only  the  Aldermen,  but  the 
capitalists  who  are  behind  the  measure.  Re 
ceiver  and  thief  shall  go  to  jail  together." 

"Is  that  so?"  chuckled  Horrigan.  "Then, 
Mr.  Reformer,  let  me  tell  you  who  is  really  be 
hind  this  whole  affair — the  man  you'll  have  to 
jail  first  of  all — Mr.  Charles  Wainwright, 
uncle  of  the  girl  you're  trying  to  marry!" 

He  leaned  back  to  note  the  effect  of  his 
revelation.  But  Bennett's  face  moved  no  mus 
cle,  gave  no  hint  of  what  lay  beneath. 

"Besides,"  went  on  Horrigan,  eager  to  press 
his  advantage,  "every  cent  of  Miss  Wain- 
wright's  fortune  and  of  her  brother's  has  been 
put  by  Wainwright  into  Borough  stock.  If 
the  franchise  is  beaten  that  stock  will  collapse, 
and  Miss  Wainwright  will  be  a  pauper.  You'll 
beggar  the  girl  you're  in  love  with  and  her 


102  The  New  Mayor. 

young  brother  if  you  veto  that  bill.  Now  go 
ahead  and  do  as  you  like." 

It  was  Horrigan's  trump  card  and  he  had 
played  it  well.  White,  silent,  Bennett  walked 
back  to  his  desk.  The  fight  seemed  all  knocked 
out  of  him.  Heavily  he  moved,  like  a  man 

V 

over-exhausted.  Picking  up  a  pen,  he  wrote 
rapidly,  then  cast  aside  the  pen,  crossed  to  the 
window  and  looked  out  into  the  snowy,  crowd 
ed  park. 

"You've  signed  the  bill?"  cried  Horrigan  in 
delight. 

"I've  vetoed  it!"  replied  Bennett. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

» 

A  BROKEN  PROMISE. 

"THE  Boss  is  turned  down!" 

This  startling  news  flew,  lightning  fast,  to 
every  quarter  of  the  organization,  and  in  its 
wake  spread  a  trail  of  incredulous  amaze. 
Every  member,  from  Alderman  to  "heeler," 
knew  why  Horrigan  had  made  Bennett,  Mayor. 
That  the  latter  should  turn  against  his  bene 
factor  seemed  not  only  black  ingratitude,  but 
something  akin  to  insanity.  For  it  apparently 
spelled  political  suicide  for  the  young  man. 

While  neither  of  the  disputants  had  repeated 
the  details  of  the  quarrel,  yet  those  details  with 
many  another  were  already  passing  from 
mouth  to  mouth  in  the  mysterious  fashion 
whereby  the  closest  kept  secrets  are  divulged 
and  enlarged  on.  In  the  financial  world,  too, 
the  veto  came  as  a  bombshell.  Borough  Street 
Railway  stock  fell  with  a  thud  that  shook  more 
than  one  colossal  fortune.  Bennett — central 
point  of  the  whole  upheaval — was  the  calmest 

103 


104  The  New  Mayor. 

man  of  all  who  were  involved.  He  had  chosen 
his  course  and  he  was  following  it  with  a 
dogged  quiet  far  more  dangerous  than  any 
loud-mouthed  bluster.  He  had  laid  out  a  cam 
paign  and  that  campaign  he  rigidly  followed. 

His  first  step  was  to  send  for  Perry  Wain- 
wright  early  on  the  morning  following  the 
clash  with  Horrigan,  and,  under  strict  pledge 
of  secrecy,  to  explain  the  whole  complicated 
affair  to  that  very  bewildered  young  man. 

"You're  all  right,  Alwyn!  You're  all  the 
goods!"  crowed  Perry  in  genuine  admiration. 
"But  why  didn't  you  back-heel  Horrigan  and 
throw  him  downstairs?" 

"I  think  I  did,"  said  Bennett,  dryly.  "I 
think  I'm  still  doing  it.  That's  why  I  sent 
for  you  to-day." 

"Want  me  to  lick  him  for  you?"  asked  Perry 
in  delight.  "He's  a  bit  over  my  weight,  but  I 
wouldn't  mind  pasting 

"No,"  interrupted  Bennett,  amused  at  the 
lad's  vehemence;  "I  want  you  to  play  the  melo 
dramatic  brother  and  protect  your  sister." 

"Say!"  snorted  Perry,  all  the  lightness  gone 
out  of  his  manner  and  his  young  frame  stiffen 
ing  ominously.  "D'you  mean  to  say  the  cur 
is  framing  up  any  game  on  Dallas?  I " 

"Sit  down!"  ordered  Alwyn,  "and  try  to  use 
what  little  human  intelligence  you  may  have. 


The  New  Mayor.  105 

I've  got  to  have  your  help,  and  what  use  are 
you  when  all  you  can  think  of  is  getting 
thrashed  by  somebody?  Sit  down  now  and 
listen  to  me." 

Perry  meekly  obeyed  the  new  note  of  com 
mand  in  his  friend's  voice,  and  Bennett  re 
sumed  : 

"Your  uncle  has  tried  to  hamper  me  by  put 
ting  all  your  fortune  and  Dallas's  into  Bor 
ough  Street  Railway  stock.  The  news  of  my 
veto  will  reach  the  Exchange  almost  at  once. 
That  will  cause  a  slump  in  Borough  stock.  If 
Ilorrigan  fails  to  carry  the  bill  through  over 
my  head — and  he  will  fail  if  I  can  possibly 
block  him — that  will  mean  the  practical  col 
lapse  of  the  stock.  It  will  mean  that  you  and 
Dallas  will  be  almost  penniless." 

"Well,"  suggested  Perry  cheerfully,  "then 
you  can  marry  Dallas,  and  little  brother  Perry 
can  come  and  live  with  you.  Don't  worry,  old 
chap!  I- 

"Shut  up,  you  young  idiot,  and  sit  down  and 
listen!  Here's  a  check.  Also  a  note  of  intro 
duction  to  my  broker.  He's  a  close-mouthed 
fellow  and  he'll  keep  the  secret.  I  want  you 
to  sell  Borough  stock  short  to  the  amount 
of- 

"To  speculate?    Gee!    I  never  thought— 

"I  don't  believe  in  speculation  as  a  rule,  but 


106  The  New  Mayor. 

this  time  it's  the  only  way  out.  Sell  short; 
then  if  the  bill  is  defeated,  you  and  Dallas 
will  still  be  as  well  off  as  you  are  now,  even 
after  paying  me  back  this  sum  I've  advanced. 
If  the  bill  is  passed  over  my  head,  the  stock 
will  boom,  and  you'll  both  be  richer  than  ever. 
Understand  the  idea?  I  think  I've  arranged 
it  so  you  and  she  won't  lose  a  dollar  in  either 
case." 

"Alwyn!"  cried  Perry,  the  full  idea  at  last 
penetrating  his  youthful  brain,  "you're  the 
whitest  ever!  The— 

"Hold  on!    I  do  this  on  one  condition." 

"Oh!" 

"On  condition  you  promise  solemnly  that 
neither  Dallas  nor  any  one  else  shall  know 
my  share  in  it." 

"But- 

"Promise!" 

"Oh,  well!  All  right,  then.  But  Dallas 
ought  to " 

"No,  she  oughtn't.  Now  clear  out.  I'm 
busy.  Don't  waste  any  time  going  to  my 
broker.  I'm  holding  back  the  official  announce 
ment  of  the  veto  as  long  as  I  can.  But— 

"I'm  on!  So  long,  old  chap!  Enter  Perry 
the  Lamb  into  Bear-and-Bullville !  Let  Hor- 
rigan  &  Co.  indulge  in  a  timely  tremble!" 


The  New  Mayor.  107 

Scarce  had  Perry  departed  on  his  mission 
when  Phelan  was  announced. 

"Your  Honor!"  he  shouted  as  he  first  caught 
a  glimpse  of  Bennett,  "you're  all  aces!  Noth- 
in'  to  it.  Friend  Horrigan's  bitin'  holes  in  the 
ceilin'.  He's — oh,  you  needn't  look  so  mum. 
I'm  wise.  I  haven't  spent  ten  years  and  close 
on  a  million  bucks  in  scrapin'  together  a  pri 
vate  secret  service  system  for  nothin' !  'You've 
signed  the  bill?'  squeals  Horrigan.  'No,  you 
big  stiff,'  says  you,  'I've  vetoed  it.  Now,  go 
chase  yerself  before  I  knock  you  from  under 
your  hat !'  says  you.  Them  was  the  very  words, 
so  I'm  told." 

"I  congratulate  you  on  your  secret  service 
men!"  laughed  Bennett.  "They  seem  to  have 
a  wonderful  faculty  for  quoting  one's  remarks 
literally.  But- 

"But  did  I  come  here  to  ladle  out  hot  air  to 
you?"  supplemented  Phelan.  "No,  I  didn't. 
I  come  to  tip  you  off  to  a  meetin'  that's  held 
last  night  at  Wainwright's  house.  Him  an' 
Horrigan  an'  Gibbs  an'  some  others,  incloodin' 
Hen  Williams,  who's  Horrigan's  mouthpiece 
an'  handy-man  in  the  Board  of  Alderman. 
Didn't  happen  to  hear  of  that  meetin',  did 
you?" 

"No.  I  am  unfortunate  in  having  no  secret 
service  corps." 


108  The  New  Mayor. 

"Never  mind,"  returned  Phelan,  on  whom 
the  satire  of  the  reply  was  quite  lost.  "You 
can  get  the  benefit  of  mine.  Now,  at  this  meet- 
in'  they  did  a  lot  of  jabberin',  and  they  cussed 
you  up  hill  and  down  dale.  Says  Horrigan: 
'If  that  young  cub -'  " 

"Thanks!"  interposed  Alwyn;  "but  I  don't 
care  to  hear  what  was  said  about  me.  I 

"All  right,  then.  But  there's  something  you 
do  want  to  hear:  They  got  busy  at  last  an' 
framed  up  a  new  wordin'  for  the  Borough  bill 
that'll  maybe  throw  dust  in  your  eyes  if  you 
ain't  put  on  to  it  in  advance.  They've  cut  out 
the  subway  paragraph,  an'  the  express  busi 
ness  clause,  an'  they  allow  transfers  at  all  cross- 
lines.  That's  the  way  they'll  put  the  bill  up 
to  the  Aldermen  next  time.  A  nice,  harmless- 
lookin'  document  it'll  be,  an'  perhaps  the 
Board'll  swallow  it,  if— 

"But  do  the  alterations  in  the  bill  also  elimi 
nate  the  'perpetual  franchise'  clause?" 

"Ah,  there's  the  point.  They  don't.  All  the 
other  things  you  kicked  against  have  been 
wiped  out,  but  that  'perpetual  franchise'  clause 
stands." 

"And  the  $2,000,000  cash  offer  stands,  too," 
added  Bennett.  "I  still  fail  to  see  why  I  should 
present  Mr.  Wainwright's  company  with  a 
franchise  for  which  another  man  is  willing  to 


The  New  Mayor.  109 

pay  the  city  $2,000,000.  And  I  shall  fight  the 
bill  to  the  very  end." 

"Good  boy,  Your  Honor!  An'  Jimmy 
Phelan's  with  you.  We'll  make  Horrigan  look 
like- 

"He  needs  fourteen  votes  to  carry  the  bill 
past  my  veto.  He  has  his  thirteen  Aldermen 
under  Williams's  lead.  But  only  those  thir 
teen  voted  for  the  bill  in  its  original  state.  Un 
less  Horrigan  and  Williams  can  find  a  four 
teenth  Alderman  to 

"Unless  one  of  the  men  who  voted  against  it 
before  can  be  bought  to  vote  for  it  next  time, 
Horrigan  loses,"  answered  Phelan.  "He'll 
make  it  his  business  to  buy  a  fourteenth  man, 
an'  I'll  make  it  my  business  to  find  out  who  he 
tries  to  get  and  to  help  Your  Honor  keep  that 
same  fourteenth  man  straight.  That's  how 
it  adds  up  so  far.  Well,  I'll  be  joggin'.  I'll 
keep  you  posted,  an'  between  us  we'll  make 
Horrigan  give  a  livin'  picture  imitation  of  a 
man  without  a  scalp  before  we're  through  with 
him." 

Little  of  Phelan's  exultation  was  reflected 
in  the  new  Mayor's  face  as  the  Alderman 
bustled  out.  His  duty  lay  clear  before  him, 
and  that  duty  he  would  follow.  But  he  alone 
realized  the  cost.  He  had  so  counted  on  the 
promised  talk  with  Dallas  Wainwright  the  pre- 


110  The  New  Mayor. 

ceding  evening.  On  the  hopes  of  that  inter 
view  he  had  staked  his  all.  In  it  he  was  to  have 
received  the  half-pledged  reward  for  his 
months  of  toil  and  achievement. 

Yet,  in  view  of  his  present  relations  toward 
Wainwright,  he  could  not,  of  course,  visit  the 
financier's  home.  The  doors  of  the  house  that 
contained  the  woman  he  loved  had  been  barred 
to  him.  And  Dallas — what  must  she  have 
thought  of  his  failure  to  call? 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

AT  THE  BALL. 

"I'VE  found  out  who  their  'fourteenth  man' 
is,  Your  Honor,"  whispered  Phelan  in  high  ex 
citement.  "It's  Roberts — Richard  P.  Roberts, 
of  the  Third.  He's  the  Alderman  that  Horri- 
gan's  trying  to  put  the  Indian  sign  on.  We've 
got  to  nail  him  if  we  can." 

"You're  sure  it's  Roberts?"  asked  Bennett 
in  the  same  undertone. 

The  Administration  Ball  was  in  full  swing. 
Mayor  and  Alderman  had  chanced  to  meet  for 
a  moment  in  a  big,  crowded  reception  foyer, 
just  off  the  ballroom. 

"Am  I  sure  it's  Roberts?"  echoed  Phelan. 
"Am  I  sure?  Might  as  well  ask  me  am  I  sure 
Chesty  Dick  Horrigan  is  crooked.  I've  got 
the  facts  down  straight.  Them  secret  service 
chaps  of  mine 

"If  they  get  Roberts  they  will  be  able  to  pass 
the  bill- 
ill 


112  The  New  Mayor. 

"They  ain't  goin'  to  get  him  if  Jimmy 
Phelan's  hand  don't  turn  out  to  be  all  deuces 
an'  trays.  An'- 

"Keep  an  eye  on  him  and  don't  let  him  go 
away  without  my  knowing  it.  I  must  see  hirn 
to-night  and  learn  positively  how  he  stands  in 
regard  to  the  matter.  He  has  a  reputation  for 
being  honest.  If  only— 

"Here's  Alwyn,  Mrs.  Bennett,"  came  Perry 
Wainwright's  voice  from  the  doorway.  "In 
here.  Say,  Your  Honor,  your  honorable 
Honor's  honored  mother  has  been  looking 
everywhere  for  you.  And  now  that  I've  re 
united  the  long-lost  Mayor  and  his  anxious 
mamma  I'll  chase  off  and  find  my  partner  for 
the  next  waltz.  I  wish  it  was  Cynthia.  Ever 
dance  with  Cynthia,  Alwyn?  Poetry  of  mo 
tion  and  all  that.  Like  a  swan  or — or  a — 
Oh,  good-evening,  Alderman.  I  didn't  see 
you.  Are  you  dancing  to-night?" 

"Dancin'?"  repeated  Phelan  in  high  disgust. 
"Do  I  look  it?  It's  bad  enough  to  be  harnessed 
into  this  open-faced  suit  that  feels  like  I  was 
goin'  to  slip  through  it  every  minute,  with 
out  tryin'  to  dance,  too.  At  a  show  of  this  kind 
I  feel  like  a  pair  of  yellow  shoes  at  a  fun'ral. 
So  long,  Your  Honor.  Even',  Mrs.  Bennett! 
There's  the  music  startin',  son,"  he  added  to 
Perry,  as  he  started  for  the  barroom. 


The  New  Mayor.  113 

"I  heard  it,"  said  the  lad;  "but  I'm  in  no  wild 
hurry." 

"Thought  you  said  you  had  a  partner  to 
look  up." 

"I  have — one  of  Judge  Newman's  daugh 
ters.  Ever  see  her?  I  thought  not,  or  you 
wouldn't  have  wondered  why  I  wasn't  in  a  hur 
ry.  Better  late  than 

"Are  you  having  a  good  time,  mother?"  Ben 
nett  was  asking  the  little  old  lady  as  he  found 
a  seat  for  her. 

"Yes,"  she  answered.    "Aren't  you?" 

"Of  course  I  am.    Why  do  you  ask?" 

The  foyer  was  thinning  out  as  people 
trooped  to  the  ballroom.  For  the  moment 
mother  and  son  were  alone  together. 

"You  aren't  having  a  good  time,  Alwyn," 
she  contradicted  gently.  "You're  unhappy 
about  something.  Tell  me." 

"Nonsense!"  he  denied,  with  a  forced  laugh. 

«T 5> 

"You  are  thinking  of  Dallas,  my  boy.  Is 
anything  wrong  between  you  and  her?  What 
has  happened?" 

"Nothing,"  he  answered  sullenly.  But  the 
mother  was  not  content.  Her  heart  ached  for 
the  grief  her  son  was  trying  to  hide. 

"Something  has  happened,  Alwyn,"  she  de 
clared,  "and  I  want  to  know  what,  so  that  I 


114  The  New  Mayor. 

can  help  you.  You  love  her,  and  that  day  she 
came  back  from  Europe  I  felt  sure  she  loved 
you.  What  is  holding  you  two  apart?" 

"Nothing  that  can  be  helped." 

"But  you  never  go  to  see  her,  or— 

"How  can  I?  You  know  my  attitude  to 
ward  her  uncle.  How  can  I  call  on  her  while 
she  is  in  his  house?  I  exposed  his  relations  to 
ward  the  Borough  Street  Railway  Franchise 
bill.  I  am  righting  him  and  his  iniquitous  bill 
with  every  means  in  my  power.  Dallas 
lives- 

"I  hadn't  thought  of  that.  You  poor  boy! 
But  surely— 

"And  something  more.  Her  money  and 
Perry's  are  invested  in  Borough  stock.  By 
beating  that  bill  I  seem,  outwardly,  to  be  wil 
fully  wrecking  their  fortune.  I  told  you  the 
plan  I  arranged  with  Perry  to  avert  this,  but 
she  doesn't  know  of  that.  And— 

"Why  don't  you  tell  her,  then?  Or  let  me 
tell  her?" 

"Because  it  isn't  her  gratitude  I  want.  I 
want  her  to  love  me." 

"But  don't  you  see,  in  the  meantime,  what 
a  weapon  you  are  putting  into  Mr.  Wain- 
wright's  hands?  Suppose  he  tells  Dallas  of 
your  enmity  to  him  and  lets  her  know  you  are 
seemingly  trying  to  impoverish  her  and  her 


The  New  Mayor.  115 

brother?  He  might  prejudice  her  terribly 
against— 

"I've  thought  of  all  that.  I  must  be  content 
to  wait.  Next  Friday  the  revised  Borough 
bill  comes  up  before  the  Aldermen  again  for 
the  final  fight.  When  it's  settled  one  way  or 
the  other  I  can  go  to  her  and  explain.  Mean- 
time- 

" Meantime  she  is  here  to-night  with  Mr. 
Wainwright.  Have  you  seen  her?" 

"Only  for  a  minute." 

"Did  she  treat  you  with  the  same  friendli 
ness — the  same  interest  as  of  old?  Don't  think 
I'm  inquisitive,  dear.  I  only  ask  all  these  ques 
tions  because  I  love  you." 

"I  know,"  he  answered,  pressing  her  hand 
as  it  lay  on  his  arm;  "yet  I  can  hardly  answer 
you,  for  I  hardly  know.  In  her  presence  I  am 
not  at  ease  because  I  can't  tell  her  everything. 
And  she  seems  ill  at  ease  because  she  knows 
there's  something  I  don't  tell  her.  Oh,  it's  a 
wretched  position  for  us  both!" 

"Then  why  don't  you  clear  it  up?" 

"By  going  to  her  and  saying,  'Dallas,  I  am 
exposing  your  uncle  as  a  blackguard  and  am 
destroying  your  fortune  and  Perry's.  Will 
you  marry  me?'  These  are  the  facts.  But 
thank  God  it's  only  till  Friday.  After  that  I 
can  go  to  her  and  make  it  all  clear." 


116  The  New  Mayor. 

Before  Mrs.  Bennett  could  reply,  Perry  re 
turned  from  the  ballroom,  Cynthia  at'  his  side. 

"Then  why  not  give  me  the  next  one,  too?" 
the  lad  was  pleading.  "If  one  two-step's  good, 
two  two-steps  are  twice  as  good.  Please— 

"But  see,"  expostulated  Cynthia,  showing 
him  her  card.  "The  next  is  Mr.  Gibbs's.  I've 
told  you  that  twice." 

"I  wish  Gibbs  all  the  luck  in  the  world,"  ob 
served  Perry  benevolently,  as  he  deposited 
Cynthia  on  a  f  auteuil  beside  her  chaperon,  Mrs. 
Bennett.  "I  wish  him  so  much  good  luck  that 
if  he'd  slip  and  break  both  his  legs  I'd  pay  for 
a  cab  to  take  him  home." 

"Look  out!  Please!"  begged  Cynthia. 
"He's  coming!" 

"The  next  is  ours,  I  think,  Miss  Garrison," 
said  Gibbs,  entering  from  the  ballroom  with 
Dallas  on  his  arm.  "I  hope  we'll  have  better 
fortune  than  Miss  Wainwright  and  I.  My 
step  doesn't  seem  to  suit  hers  to-night." 

"No,  I'm  afraid  the  fault  was  mine,"  pro 
tested  Dallas.  "I'm  a  little  tired,  I  think.  May 
I  sit  here  with  you  a  few  minutes,  Mrs.  Ben 
nett?"  she  added  as  Gibbs  bore  Cynthia  away 
for  their  dance. 

"You  don't  seem  very  fond  of  Mr.  Gibbs, 
Perry,"  observed  Mrs.  Bennett,  noting  young 
Wainwright's  scowl  of  impotent  wrath. 


The  New  Mayor.  117! 

"Not  fond  enough  to  make  me  want  to  live 
in  the  same  world  with  him.  Mrs.  Bennett, 
you're  too  pretty  to  be  just  a  chaperon.  Come 
and  dance  this  two-step  with  me.  Please  do!" 

He  nodded  with  vast  significance  toward 
Dallas  and  Bennett,  and  the  little  old  lady, 
catching  the  idea,  accepted  with  alacrity. 

"I'm  so  glad  even  to  get  this  minute  with 
you,"  began  Alwyn,  when  he  and  Dallas  were 
alone.  "It's  so  long  since " 

"Since  you  came  to  see  me?  Yes,  but  that 
is  your  fault.  Alwyn,  why  haven't  you  called 
since  I  came  home?" 

"Don't  you  know  why,  Dallas?" 

"No." 

"Are  you  certain  you  don't  know?" 

"I — I  don't  know,  absolutely,"  she  faltered. 
"Oh,  there  are  so  many  things  I  don't  know 
absolutely." 

"What  is  one  of  them?" 

"For  one  thing,  you  and  I  used  to  be  such 
good  friends,  and " 

"That  is  past,"  said  Ahvyn  firmly.  "There 
can  be  no  talk  of  mere  friendship  between  you 
and  me,  Dallas.  I  must  be  everything  or  noth 
ing  to  you.  To-night  I  can't  speak  as  I  want 
to,  but  I  can  in  a  very  few  days.  Trust  me 
till  then.  You  know  I  am  fighting  Mr.  Wain- 
iwright's  interests 


118  The  New  Mayor. 

"Yes,v  she  replied  bitterly.  "My  uncle  gives 
me  no  chance  to  forget  that." 

"Don't  think  I'm  fighting  him  for  my  own 
amusement.  I  must  oppose  him  or  else  give 
up  a  fight  that  I  set  out  to  win.  And  I  mean 
to  win  it!" 

"That's  the  same  old  fighting  spirit  I  used  to 
try  so  hard  to  awaken  in  you,"  said  Dallas,  a 
faint  note  of  admiration  in  her  rich  voice.  "I 
told  you  once  it  always  took  a  blow  to  arouse 

•/  •/ 

you.    That  blow  has  evidently  been  struck." 

"It  has  been  struck!"  he  acquiesced,  with  a 
ghost  of  a  smile. 

She  saw  the  haggard  lines  about  his  mouth, 
the  tired  look  in  his  eyes,  and  a  lump  came  into 
her  throat.  She  leaned  forward  impulsively; 
but  before  she  could  speak,  he  had,  unknowing 
ly,  thrown  away  the  golden  moment  by  con 
tinuing  : 

"I  must  win  this  fight,  even  though  it  af 
fects  others  besides  Mr.  Wainwright.  Even 
if- 

"What  others  do  you  mean?" 

"Oh,  I  can't  explain  now.  After  Friday  I 
can.  On  Saturday  may  I  come  to  see  you  and 
tell  you  everything?" 

"Why  not  now?" 

"There  are  obstacles  that 

"Tell  me  what  they  are?"  she  begged, 


The  New  Mayor.  119 

"I  can't.  All  I  can  tell  you  now  is  that  I 
love  you.  I  love  you  above  all  the  world, 
sweetheart,  and— 

But  Fate,  in  the  dual  guise  of  Horrigan  and 
Wain wright,  intervened.  The  financier  and 
the  Boss,  seeking  some  quiet  spot  for  a  chat, 
strolled  through  the  foyer,  where  Horrigan, 
on  sight  of  Bennett,  halted  with  a  glower  of 
dislike,  which  he  took  no  pains  to  conceal. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

TEMPTATION. 

THE  moment  of  strained  silence  that  ensued 
upon  Horrigan's  entrance  was  broken  by  the 
irrepressible  Perry,  who,  having  rescued  Cyn 
thia  from  Gibbs  at  the  close  of  their  dance,  was 
escorting  her  triumphantly  from  the  ballroom. 

"This  is  my  dance,"  he  remarked  happily  to 
Alwyn,  as  he  came  up,  "and  we're  going  to  sit 
it  out.  If  Mrs.  Bennett,  in  her  capacity  as 
chaperon,  should  ask  for  Cynthia,  you  can  tell 
her  we're  going  into  the  glass-house  to  stroll 
among  the  romantic  vegetables." 

And  he  departed  with  his  prize  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  conservatory.  The  moment's  in 
terruption  had  sufficed  for  Wainwright  to 
whisper  an  admonitory  word  in  Horrigan's  ear. 
Dallas,  too,  fearing  a  clash,  took  Bennett's 
arm. 

"It's  so  warm  in  here,"  she  murmured.  "Per 
haps  we  can  find  better  air  in  one  of  the  other 
rooms.  Shall  we  try?" 

120 


The  New  Mayor.  121 

i 

"Wainwright,"  exclaimed  Horrigan,  as  the 

portieres  closed  behind  the  Mayor  and  girl,  "I 
don't  like  that!  Is  your  niece  on  his  side  or 
with  us?" 

"I  don't  know,"  answered  Wainwright  dis 
contentedly,  "and  I  don't  like  to  force  an  issue 
by  asking  her.  It  doesn't  especially  matter,  I 
suppose.  In  any  case,  I  can  trust  her." 

"You're  in  luck!"  sneered  Horrigan.  "That 
makes  two  people  you  say  you  can  trust.  First 
your  secretary,  Thompson,  and  then- 
Hello!"  he  broke  off,  as  a  swarthy,  middle- 
aged  man  hurried  in.  "Looking  for  me,  Wil 
liams?  What's  up?" 

The  newcomer  was  visibly  excited,  and  at 
first  glance  Horrigan  had  seen  that  something 
was  amiss. 

"What's  up!"  repeated  the  Boss. 

"Ellis  has  gone — deserted!"  cried  Williams. 

"Ellis!"  echoed  Wainwright  in  dismay;  for 
the  man  of  whom  Williams  spoke  was  one  of 
the  Aldermanic  "solid  thirteen"  on  whom  Hor 
rigan  counted.  The  Boss  made  no  comment, 
but  waited  impatiently  for  his  henchman  to 
continue. 

"Ellis  has  gone,"  repeated  Williams.  "He 
left  a  note  for  me,  saying  his  wife  is  very  ill 
and  the  doctor's  ordered  him  to  take  her  South ; 
so  he  can't  attend  Friday's  meeting." 


122  The  New  May or. 

"Can't  attend  the  meeting?"  gasped  Wain- 
wright.  "But  everything  depends  on— 

"Oh,  he'll  be  on  hand — the  cur!"  growled 
Horrigan.  "The  rest  are  standing  solid,  of 
course?" 

"I  think  so,"  hazarded  Williams;  "but  some 
of  'em  are  pretty  scared.  We've  never  had 
such  a  fight  before  as  Bennett's  putting  up 
against  us  now,  and— 

"I'll  strengthen  'em  up  so  as  to  knock  out 
any  weakening!"  declared  Horrigan  confident 
ly.  "It's  Ellis  we've  got  to  look  after  now. 
Go  after  him,  Williams,  on  the  first  train  South 
and  haul  him  back.  Have  him  here  by  Friday, 
if  you  have  to  kidnap  him.  I'll  stand  for  any 
damage  or  expense.  Only  see  he's  here  for 
that  meeting.  It's  up  to  you.  Now  jump!" 

As  Williams  hastened  toward  the  door,  Hor 
rigan  called  after  him: 

"On  your  way  out  send  word  to  Roberts  that 
I  want  to  see  him  here.  Well,  Wainwright," 
he  resumed,  turning  back  into  the  room,  "it 
looks  bad." 

"Do  you  think- 

"I  think  we're  in  a  tight  place.  If  our  Al 
dermen  found  out  about  Ellis's  quitting, 
there's  no  knowing  how  many  of  'em  would 
bolt!  If  we  could  only  work  Bennett!" 

"Out  of  the  question !   He  can't  be  turned," 


The  New  Mayor.  123 

"There's  no  man  who  can't  be  turned.  I've 
one  card  up  my  sleeve  yet  that  ought  to  land 
him.  But  I'd  rather  try  something  else  first. 
I  wish  we  could  get  a  line  on  his  price." 

"He  can't  be  bought!    He- 

"Rot!  Everybody  can  be  bought.  Only 
there's  some  that  can't  be  bought  with  cash. 
I'm  wondering  what  there  is  that'll  buy  him 
if  money  won't." 

Gibbs,  in  search  of  an  elusive  partner, 
crossed  the  foyer  and  paused  to  greet  them. 

"What  news?"  he  asked. 

Wainwright  surveyed  the  broker's  well- 
groomed  figure  with  less  approval  than  usual. 

"You  seem  to  be  industrious  enough  to 
night,"  said  he.  "It's  a  pity  some  of  to-night's 
dancing  energy  couldn't  have  been  devoted  to 
your  work  this  morning." 

Gibbs  flushed  at  the  reproof  in  words  and 
tone. 

"I  don't  understand,"  he  replied  stiffly. 

"Why  didn't  you  notify  me  of  the  big  block 
of  Borough  stock  that  was  bought  up  just 
before  noon?" 

"I  hadn't  heard  about  it,"  answered  Gibbs, 
with  not  quite  all  his  customary  assurance. 

"Everybody  else  heard  of  it.  You'll  have  to 
keep  better  tabs  on  the  market  than  that  if 


124  The  New  Mayor. 

you're  to  be  any  use  to  us.  Do  you  know  who 
bought  it?" 

"No,"  returned  Gibbs,  with  growing  uneasi 
ness  ;  "of  course  I  don't.  How  should  I  know? 
What  are  you  driving  at?" 

"This  is  what  I'm  driving  at:  Several  big 
blocks  of  the  stock  have  been  unloaded  on  the 
market  during  the  past  few  days  and  have  been 
quietly  snapped  up.  Somebody's  evidently 
tailing  on  to  our  game.  You  don't  know  who?" 

"I've  told  you  twice  that  I  didn't  know," 
blustered  Gibbs,  masking  his  concern  under  a 
show  of  virtuous  indignation. 

The  effort  called  forth  all  the  astute  young 
broker's  nerve.  For  a  certain  shrewd  scheme 
of  his  showed  signs  of  falling  through.  By  his 
original  arrangement  with  Wainwright  he  was 
to  have  manipulated  all  the  Borough  stock 
purchases  on  the  Exchange  floor  and  to  receive 
20  per  cent,  of  the  profits  on  the  condition  that 
he  invest  not  one  dollar  in  the  stock  on  his  pri 
vate  account. 

Having  strong  faith  in  the  deal's  success  and 
having  no  equally  strong  incentive  to  keep  faith 
with  his  partner,  Gibbs  had  sought  to  swell  his 
own  profits  by  secretly  buying  up  quantities 
of  the  stock  for  himself,  until  every  penny  of 
his  capital  was  involved.  His  troubled  mind 
could  not  now  determine  whether  or  not  Wain- 


The  New  Mayor.  125 

wright  suspected  him.  Gibbs,  while  possess 
ing  all  the  ambition,  selfishness  and  lack  of  con 
science  that  go  toward  the  making  of  a  great 
financier,  lacked  the  one  chief  essential  for  the 
part — namely,  a  cold  and  unshakable  nerve.  It 
was  this  defect  that  now  threatened  to  expose 
him. 

"Well,"  resumed  Wainwright,  as  though 
dismissing  the  topic,  "you  should  have  made  it 
your  business  to  know  who  is  doing  this  pri 
vate  buying.  That's  what  we  brought  you 
into  the  deal  for.  Anyhow,  the  mysterious  pur 
chaser  is  liable  to  find  himself  in  hot  water  be 
fore  long." 

"Why?"  queried  Gibbs,  in  a  voice  he  tried 
to  make  indifferent. 

"Only  because  the  deal  will  probably  fall 
through." 

"Fall  through  1"  cried  Gibbs  in  dismay. 

"What  do  you Why,  you  told  me  Mr. 

Horrigan  could  win  over  a  fourteenth  Alder 
man  and  that  with  his  solid  thirteen— 

"Yes,"  drawled  Horrigan,  who  had  been  un 
obtrusively  eyeing  Gibbs  from  the  moment  of 
his  entrance,  "we  had  some  such  notion,  as  you 
say.  But  my  'solid  thirteen'  didn't  happen  to 
be  as  solid  as  he  looked.  He's  bolted." 

"Bolted!  Then  we— we  will  lose!  We- 

"Say,  Mr.  Gibbs,"  observed  Horrigan,  "you 


126  The  New  Mayor. 

seem  to  take  this  thing  pretty  hard  for  a  man 
with  only  20  per  cent,  at  stake.  Mr.  Wainwright 
stands  to  lose  some  millions.  I'm  interested 
to  the  extent  of  almost  a  million.  Yet  you 
don't  see  us  getting  pale  and  shaky,  do  you? 
If  a  man  can't  pay  for  the  chips,  he  has  no 
right  in  a  poker  game.  We  haven't  lost  yet. 
I've  sent  after  the  fellow  that  bolted,  and  I 
think  I  can  land  the  fourteenth  Alderman, 
too." 

"Good!"  exclaimed  Gibbs  in  wild  relief; 
"and  you'll  do  your  very  best  to  pull  the  deal 
through,  won't  you?" 

"No!"  snarled  Horrigan  in  elephantine  sar 
casm;  "I'm  going  to  spend  the  time  playing 
ping-pong  and  diabolo  with  the  kids,  or  taking 
a  course  of  lessons  in  fancy  knitting.  Oh,  buck 
up,  can't  you,  and  quit  acting  like  a  baby! 
Judge  Newman's  out  there  on  the  other  side 
of  the  ballroom.  Chase  over  and  tell  him  to 
come  here." 

Too  confused  to  resent  the  Boss's  words, 
Gibbs  meekly  set  out  on  his  errand. 

"That  chap's  got  a  streak  of  yellow  a  yard 
wide,"  commented  Horrigan,  gazing  after  him. 

"Not  as  bad  as  that,"  replied  Wainwright. 
"He's  young  and  not  used  to  reverses.  You'll 
find  he's  game,  all  right,  when  it  comes  to  a 
pinch.  What  did  you  want  of  Newman?" 


The  New  Mayor.  127! 

"You'll  see.    Here  he  comes." 

"You  wished  to  speak  to  me,  Mr.  Horri- 
gan?"  piped  the  little  Judge,  hurrying  into  the 
foyer.  "Good-evening,  Mr.  Wainwright. 
What  a  success  this  ball  is!  My  daughters 
have  been  dancing  all  evening.  Mrs.  Newman 
is  so " 

"Never  mind  Mrs.  Newman  just  now,'* 
broke  in  Horrigan.  "There's  something  I 
want  you  to  do  for  me." 

He  spoke,  as  he  always  did  to  Newman,  in 
the  manner  of  one  addressing  an  incompetent 
servant.  The  Judge,  for  all  his  pomposity, 
deemed  it  wise  to  ignore  the  politician's  mode 
of  address. 

"I  want  you  to  hunt  up  Bennett,"  went  on 
the  Boss,  "and  persuade  him  to  stop  fighting 
the  Borough  Franchise  bill.  Tell  him— 

"Oh!"  gasped  the  Judge  in  genuine  alarm. 
"I  really  don't  think  I  could  presume  to " 

"Yes,  you  can,"  contradicted  Horrigan. 
"You  can  do  it,  and  what's  more,  you  will. 
You  don't  feel  shy  about  asking  favors  of  me, 
and  when  it's  the  other  way  around  you've  got 
to  come  down  or— 

"I  know !  I  know !"  protested  the  frightened 
little  Judge,  soothingly.  "But  you  don't  un 
derstand  how " 


128  The  New  Mayor. 

"I  got  you  the  nomination  last  fall.  Are 
you  going  to  be  a  white  man  or  a  welcher?" 

"But  I'm  sure  that  Mrs.  Newman— 

"To  blazes  with  Mrs.  Newman!  Now  listen 
to  me.  Go  to  Bennett  and  do  what  you  can  to 
make  him  keep  his  hands  off  our  Borough  bill. 
If  he's  difficult  offer  him,  in  my  name,  the 
nomination  for  Governor  next  year.  If  you 
can  get  him,  well — there's  a  vacancy  next  year 
in  the  Supreme  Court  and— 

"I'll  do  what  I  can,"  assented  the  Judge. 
"I'm  sure  you  are  right,  Mr.  Horrigan,  even 
if  your  way  of  putting  matters  is  just  a  little 
rugged.  I'll  see  Mr.  Bennett  to-night  and  use 
all  the  persuasion  in  my  power.  I'm  quite  sure 
civic  welfare  will  be  best  served  if  he  will  cease 
his  unseemly  opposition  to  the  Borough  bill. 
Thank  you,  Mr.  Horrigan.  I'm  sure  Mrs. 
Newman ' 

"I'm  sure,  too,"  cut  in  Horrigan.  "Now 
run  on.  We're  busy.  Remember,  now — the 
next  Supreme  Court  vacancy— 

"Do  you  really  think  he  has  any  influence 
with  Bennett?"  asked  Wainwright  as  the 
Judge  vanished. 

"Can't  do  any  harm  to  try.  They're  neigh 
bors  in  the  country  and  in  the  same  crowd  in 
society,  and  all  that.  If  it  fails,  I've  another 
card  that's  even  stronger.  Roberts  ought  to  be 


The  New  Mayor.  129 

here  by  now.  You  found  out  about  those  notes 
of  his?" 

"Yes,  both  of  them.  One  for  $7,000,  one 
for  $15,000.  Both  secured  by  mortgaging  his 
factory.  Roberts  can't  meet  them.  They've 
been  extended  twice,  though  the  security  must 
have  been  good  or  the  Sturtevant  Trust  Com 
pany  wouldn't  have  lent — 

"Williams  said  you  wanted  to  speak  to  me, 
Mr.  Horrigan,"  said  a  nervous  voice  from  the 
door,  and  a  pale,  middle-aged  man  came  for 
ward.  He  wore  worry's  stamp  between  his 
perplexed  eyes  and  care  had  bent  his  narrow 
shoulders. 

"Yes.  Good-evening,  Roberts,"  replied 
Horrigan  cordially.  "See  you  later,  Wain- 
wright." 

The  financier  took  the  hint  and  walked  to 
ward  the  ballroom,  on  his  way  out  nearly  col 
liding  with  Phelan,  who  was  entering  the  foyer. 
At  sight  of  Horrigan  and  Roberts  together, 
Phelan's  eyebrows  went  upward  with  a  jerk, 
and  he  tiptoed  out  in  the  opposite  direction, 
as  fast  as  his  stout  legs  could  carry  him,  in 
search  of  Bennett.  Meantime  Horrigan  had 
come  directly  to  the  point,  as  usual,  in  his  ap 
peal  to  Roberts. 

"Look  here,  Alderman,"  said  he,  "you've 


130  The  New  Mayor. 

been  trying  for  years  to  get  through  a  park 
bill  for  your  ward.  Still  want  it?" 

"Yes,"  returned  Roberts.  "My  constitu 
ents  are  at  me  all  the  time  about  that  park. 
They- 

" It  would  make  your  ward's  property  values 
go  up  50  per  cent.,  and  it  would  make  you 
solid  there  forever,  hey?" 

"Yes;but- 

" Introduce  that  bill  again  and  I'll  guaran 
tee  it  will  go  through." 

"Are  you  in  earnest?" 

"There's  my  hand  on  it.  Only,  of  course, 
it's  understood  that  your  park  bill  won't  come 
up  until  after  the  Borough  Street  Railway 
Franchise  is  passed.  Understand?" 

"I'm  afraid  I  do,"  said  Roberts  after  a 
pause;  "but  I  voted  against  that  bill,  and— 

"You  voted  against  the  bill  in  its  original 
form,"  Horrigan  interrupted,  reassuringly, 
"and  you  were  right  to.  It  had  a  lot  of  clauses 
that  you  thought  weren't  square.  But  all  those 
have  been  cut  out." 

"But  I  still- 

"But  you'll  be  doing  what's  best  for  your 
own  constituents  by  looking  after  their  inter 
ests  in  the  matter  of  the  park.  You'll  be  their 
hero  for  that.  Of  course  if  I  wanted  to  put  it 
another  way  I  could  remind  you  that  your 


The  New  Mayor.  131 

business  is  in  a  bad  way  and  that  a  friend  of 
mine  has  bought  up  your  notes  at  the  Sturte- 
vant  Trust  Company  and  means  to  send  them 
to  you  to-morrow.  But  that  has  nothing  to 
do  with  the  case.  So  I  just — 

"I'm  honest,  Mr.  Horrigan,"  faltered 
Roberts.  "I- 

"Sure  you're  honest!  That's  why  you'll  have 
the  courage  to  vote  for  the  bill  when  you  see 
it's  been  amended  so  as  to  be  a  good  thing  for 
the  city.  That's  being  honest,  isn't  it?" 

"I — I  suppose  so.    And  the  notes — the— 

"They'll  be  sent  you  by  registered  mail  to 
morrow,  if  you  want  them.  Do  you?" 

"Y-yes— that  is,  I- 

"That's  settled,  then.  You've  got  a  level 
head.  Good-night." 

The  Boss  strode  out,  a  grim  smile  of  victory 
on  his  big  face,  leaving  Roberts  standing  con 
fused,  doubtful,  his  brain  awhirl.  How  long 
the  tempted  Alderman  stood  thus — oblivious 
to  the  music,  his  surroundings  and  all  else — 
he  could  never  remember.  But  a  voice  at  his 
elbow  brought  him  to  his  senses  with  a  start, 
that  was  followed  by  a  thrill  of  fear  as  he 
wheeled  and  recognized  the  speaker. 


CHAPTER  X. 

"BACK  FROM  THE  DEAD." 

ROBERTS'S  eyes  rested  on  the  grinning,  com 
placent  features  of  Alderman  Phelan.  At  the 
latter's  side  was  Bennett. 

"I  was  saying,"  remarked  Phelan  blandly, 
"that  it's  a  fine  ball.  Isn't  it,  now,  Roberts?" 

"Yes,"  said  Roberts  hastily,  preparing  to 
move  away.  But  Phelan  buttonholed  him. 

"Stay  an'  swap  talk  awhile  with  His  Honor 
and  me,  Roberts,"  he  begged. 

"I'm  in  a  hurry,"  began  Roberts,  "and— 

"Alderman  Phelan  has  been  trying  to  cheer 
me  up  a  bit,"  said  Bennett.  "He  knows  I'm 
worried  about  the  Borough  bill's  outcome.  I 
wish  Friday  was  past." 

"Same  here,"  chimed  in  Phelan.  "An'  you, 
Roberts?" 

"I?"  muttered  the  uncomfortable  man. 
"Why?" 

"It's  Friday  that  the  Borough  bill  comes  up 
again,"  explained  Bennett,  as  though  impart- 

132 


The  New  Mayor.  133 

ing  new  information.  "You  are  still  against 
it,  of  course,  Mr.  Roberts?" 

"I'm  not  sure — you  see,  it's  been  altered  so 
asto- 

"The  alterations  don't  affect  the  main  issue 
and  they  can't  change  any  honest  man's  views. 
So  I  can  count  on  you  to  continue  opposing  it, 
can't  I?" 

"I  object  to  this  catechizing!"  flared  up  poor 
Roberts.  "I  won't  stand  for  it.  I'm  my  own 
master  and— 

"Are  you  sure  you're  your  own  master?" 
demanded  Bennett.  "If  so,  why  should  you  be 
afraid  to  say  how  you  are  going  to  vote?" 

"Do  you  accuse  me  of— 

"I  accuse  you  of  having  changed  your  mind 
about  the  bill  for  some  reason  that  won't  bear 
the  light.  And  I  warn  you  to  go  carefully. 
Somebody's  going  to  prison  before  this  mat 
ter's  ended." 

"I'm  not  answerable  to  any  one  but  my 
constituents,"  said  Roberts,  with  a  pitiful  at 
tempt  at  cold  dignity;  "and  they— 

"And  they  shall  demand  an  answer  from 
you,"  warned  Bennett.  "I'll  see  to  it  that  they 
do.  Now,  you  can  go  if  you  want  to,"  turning 
his  back  on  the  confused  Roberts,  who  eagerly 
took  the  opportunity  to  escape. 

"I'm  afraid  friend  Roberts  ain't  havin'  the 


134  The  New  Mayor. 

happiest  time  of  his  life  to-night,"  remarked 
Phelan,  going  to  the  doorway  and  looking 
after  the  departing  Alderman.  "There's  not 
much  of  what  the  poet-geezer  calls  'Whoop  up 
the  dance,  let  joy  be  unrefined'  about  him. 
Poor  fool !  He  never  was  cut  out  to  be  a  crook. 
He  makes  a  punk  job  of  it,  in  spite  of  the 
trimmin's  Horrigan's  dec'rated  him  with.  If 
I  hadn't  the  sense  to  be  crooked  without  makin' 
a  monkey  of  myself,  I'm  blest  if  I  don't  b'lieve 
I'd  turn  honest.  Hey?  Here's  a  couple  of 
folks,  though,  that's  gettin'  more  fun  out  of 
the  ball  than  ever  I  had  at  a  dog  fight." 

As  he  spoke,  Perry  Wainwright  piloted 
Cynthia  in  from  the  conservatory  at  top  speed, 
his  jolly  young  face  alight  with  a  joy  that  re 
flected  itself  in  Miss  Garrison's  own  very 
flushed  countenance. 

"Alwyn!"  shouted  young  Wainwright,  not 
seeing  Phelan  in  his  excitement,  "guess 
what's  happened!  I'll  give  you  three  guesses 
and "  J 

"And  I  can't  possibly  guess  if  you  gave  me 
a  thousand,"  retorted  Bennett  with  vast  grav 
ity.  "So  I  won't  try.  I'll  just  congratulate 
you  with  all  my  heart,  old  chap,  and  wish  Miss 
Garrison  every  happiness  that ': 

"Gee!  how'd  you  know?  We  haven't  told 
a  soul.  It  only  happened  about  four  minutes 


The  New  Mayor.  135 

ago.  I  was  telling  Cynthia  what  a  daisy  little 
girl  she  was  and  she  said  she  thought  I  was 
pretty  nice,  too,  and  so  I  got  brave  and  said, 
'Then  why  don't  you- 

"Perry!"  reproved  Cynthia  sternly, 'jerking 
his  arm  to  show  that  Phelan  as  well  as  Alwyn 
was  recipient  of  the  highly  intimate  tidings. 

"Oh,  don't  mind  me,  children!"  put  in 
Phelan.  "I'm  used  to  it.  I  was  young  myself 
once,  so  I've  been  told,  though  I  don't  clearly 
remember  it  myself.  Can  I  butt  in  with  a  line 
of  congratulation?" 

He  extended  his  big  hand  with  an  honest  cor 
diality  that  quite  won  Cynthia. 

"Thanks,  Alderman,"  grinned  Perry  effu 
sively.  "Now,  Alwyn,  we've  got  to  go  and 
break  it  to  your  mother  if  we  can  find  her. 
Come  along  and  back  us  up." 

Dragging  Bennett  between  them,  the  two 
youngsters  started  off  on  their  quest.  Phelan 
was  about  to  return  to  his  beloved  bar  when 
he  was  checked  by  seeing  in  the  opposite  door 
way  a  man  who  stood  as  though  petrified, 
watching  Cynthia  Garrison's  departing  form. 
The  intruder  was  about  to  withdraw  when 
Phelan  hailed  him. 

"Good-evening,"  called  the  Alderman. 

"Good-evening,  sir,"  said  the  newcomer,  re- 


136  The  New  Mayor. 

spectfully  pausing  on  the  point  of  leaving  the 
foyer. 

"I've  met  you  before,  I  think,"  went  on 
Phelan. 

"Some  days  ago  in  the  Mayor's  office,"  as 
sented  the  other.  "I  am  Thompson,  Mr.  Wain- 
wright's  private  secretary." 

"I'm  Alderman  Phelan,  of  the  Eighth.  And 
I've  seen  you  before  we  met  at  His  Honor's." 

"So  you  said  then,  sir.  But  you  were  mis 
taken.  Good-evening." 

He  turned  again  toward  the  door,  but 
Phelan  resumed,  without  seeking  to  stop  him: 

"A  mistake  was  it?  I'm  not  a  man  who 
makes  many  mistakes,  Mr.  Garrison." 

The  retreating  secretary  halted  as  though 
struck. 

"That  is  another  mistake,  sir,"  he  said  in 
a  muffled  voice.  "My  name  is  Thompson." 

"Is  it  though?"  inquired  Phelan  innocently. 
"It's  queer  how  I  could  get  mixed  up  so. 
When  I  was  Chief  of  Police  there  was  a  bank 
president  named  Garrison  who  shot  himself 
after  bein'  swindled  an'  whipsawed  by  a  finan 
cier  who  was  his  dearest  friend.  He  left  a 
little  daughter,  Miss  Cynthia,  who  you  was 
lookin'  at  so  keen  just  now,  an'  a  son,  who 
disappeared.  That  was  nine  years  ago,  an'  I 
only  saw  the  boy  once,  so  maybe  I've  over- 


The  New  Mayor.  137 

played  my  hand  in  pipin'  you  off  for  him. 
But,"  added  Phelan,  laying  a  strong,  detain 
ing  hand  on  Thompson's  shoulder,  "here  comes 
some  one  who  can  clear  it  up  easy  enough." 

The  secretary  twisted  in  the  iron  grasp  and 
sought  vainly  to  break  away  as  Cynthia  and 
Perry  entered. 

"Cynthia's  lost  her  fan,"  explained  Perry  at 
sight  of  the  Alderman.  "She's  had  me  looking 
all  over  for  the  measly  thing.  Wait  here  a 
minute,"  he  added  to  her,  "and  I'll  chase  into 
the  conservatory  and  see  if  we  left  it  there." 

And  depositing  the  girl  in  a  chair,  he  bolted 
away  in  search  of  the  missing  article. 

"Now,  then,  young  man,"  said  Phelan,  "if 
your  name's  Thompson,  as  you  say,  there's  no 
reason  why  you  should  object  to  my  introdu- 
cin'  you  to  this  young  lady.  Step  up,  son." 

Still  holding  the  reluctant,  struggling  sec 
retary  by  the  shoulder,  Phelan  turned  to  Cyn 
thia. 

"Miss  Garrison,"  said  he,  "here's  a  gentle 
man  I  think  you  know.  Would  you  mind  look- 
in'  hina  over?" 

Wondering  at  the  odd  request,  Cynthia 
raised  her  eyes  to  the  stranger.  But  the  latter 
persistently  kept  his  face  averted. 

"I  don't  think  I  know  him,"  she  answered 


138  The  New  Mayor. 

doubtfully.  "There  is  something  familiar 
about 

The  secretary  shifted  restlessly,  unconscious 
ly  bringing  his  profile  into  her  range  of  vision. 
With  a  gasp  Cynthia  sprang  to  her  feet,  her 
face  white,  her  eyes  wide  and  incredulous. 

"It's  not — it's — oh,  Harry!"  she  cried  in 
an  ecstasy  of  recognition,  flinging  her  arms 
about  the  secretary's  neck.  "Harry!  Brother! 
Back  from  the  dead!  Don't  you  know  me? 
It's  Cynthia!  Don't- 

"I  am  afraid  you've  made  a  very  strange 
blunder,  Miss  Garrison,"  returned  the  secre 
tary,  his  voice  hoarse  and  tremulous.  "My 
name  is— 

"Your  name's  Harry  Garrison!"  Phelan 
shouted.  "What's  the  use  of  lyin'  to  your  own 
sister?  I  give  you  credit  for  havin'  good  rea 
sons  for  callin'  yourself  Thompson,  an'  I  think 
I  begin  to  see  what  them  reasons  are.  But 
when  it  comes  to  denyin'  your  own  sister, 
you're  playin'  it  down  low,  whatever  your  game 
may  be,  an'  I've  a  good  mind  to— 

"Harry!"  the  girl  was  pleading,  "you  do 
know  me!  After  all  these  nine  lonely  years 
have  you  no  greeting  for  me?  Every  night  I've 
prayed  that  God  would  bring  you  back  to  me. 
And  now — 

The  secretary's  pallid,  expressionless  mask 


The  New  Mayor.  139 

of  a  face  broke  in  a  flash  into  a  look  of  infinite 
love  and  yearning.  With  a  single  gesture  he 
gathered  Cynthia's  fragile  body  in  his  arms 
and  crushed  her  against  his  breast. 

"Oh,  my  little  sister!"  he  murmured,  a  great 
sob  choking  his  words.  "My  little,  little  sis 
ter!" 

Phelan  cleared  his  throat  and  coughed  sav 
agely  to  express  his  contempt  for  the  mist  that 
sprang  into  his  own  hard  old  eyes.  The  sound 
recalled  the  secretary  to  himself. 

"You've  trapped  me  into  this,"  he  exclaimed, 
with  a  laugh  that  was  half  a  groan,  "and  you 
must  both  promise  not  to  betray  my  secret.  It 
won't  be  much  longer  now,  thank  God!  But 
you'll  both  promise,  won't  you?" 

"Sure!"  assented  Phelan. 

"And  you,  too,  Cynthia?"  pleaded  her  broth 
er;  "you  can  trust  me,  can't  you?" 

"Of  course  I  can.  If  you  insist,  I  won't  tell 
any  one.  I— 

"I'm  happier  this  minute  than  I've  ever  been 
in  all  my  whole  life!"  smiled  the  secretary, 
again  clasping  his  sister  in  his  arms.  "If  you 
only  knew,  little  girl,  how  I've  longed  for 
this!" 

"Here's  the  fan!"  announced  Perry,  hurry 
ing  around  the  corner  of  the  doorway.  "Found 
it  under  a " 


140  The  New  Mayor. 

He  stopped  short,  open-mouthed,  dumb  and 
motionless.  Thompson  and  Cynthia  stood,  in 
close  embrace,  before  him,  with  Phelan  look 
ing  on  like  some  obese  caricature  of  a  benevo 
lent  fairy. 

The  fan  slipped  from  young  Wainwright's 
nerveless  grip,  and  fell  with  a  clatter  to  the 
polished  floor,  its  ivory  sticks  snapping  like 
icicles. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE  CRUCIAL  TEST. 

AT  sound  of  the  breaking  fan,  all  three  par 
ticipants  in  the  strange  reunion  turned.  For 
a  second  or  more  they  faced  the  crimson-  faced 
dumfounded  Perry  without  a  word.  Here 
was  an  element  in  the  affair  on  which  neither 
Phelan  nor  Cynthia  had  counted  when  giving 
Thompson  their  promise  not  to  reveal  his  iden 
tity.  They  gradually  realized  this,  and  it  left 
even  the  ready-witted  Phelan  speechless. 

Perry  himself  was  first  to  break  the  spell. 

"Well,"  he  observed,  with  an  assumption  of 
airy  scorn  that  was  meant  to  be  annihilating. 
"You  all  seem  quite  happy.  Don't  mind  me! 
I'm  sorry  to  butt  in  on  this  cute  little  love  fest, 
but  I  left  a  fiancee  here.  Perhaps  one  of  you 
can  explain  what's  happened  to  her  since 


"Oh,  Perry!"  exclaimed  Cynthia,  "don't  be 
silly.    I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  some  time.    It 

is  -  " 

141 


142  The  New  Mayor. 

"Some  time?"  yelled  Perry,  rage  battering 
down  his  attempt  at  sarcasm.  "Some  time! 
Maybe  it  might  be  just  as  well  if  you  did  con 
descend  to  explain.  Here  you  promise  to  mar 
ry  me,  and  ten  minutes  later  I  find  you  in  a 
catch-as-catch-can  hug  with  this  ugly  little 
shrimp;  and  Phelan  looking  on  as  happy  as  if 
he'd  eaten  a  canary!  And  then  you've  the  gall 
to  tell  me  you'll  explain  'some  time'!" 

He  glared  at  Cynthia  in  all  the  majesty  of 
outraged  devotion,  only  to  surprise  on  that 
young  lady's  face  a  look  that  indicated  a  violent 
struggle  with  the  desire  to  laugh. 

"This  is  funny  all  right — I  guess  not!"  he 
snapped.  "Cynthia,  you've  mauled  and 
smashed  a  loving  heart  and  I'll  make  a  hit  with 
myself  by  forgiving  you.  But  as  for  you," 
wheeling  about  and  thrusting  his  furious  face 
to  within  three  inches  of  Thompson's  immobile 
countenance — "as  for  you,  I'm  going  tc  do  all 
sorts  of  things  to  you  the  moment  Miss  Garri 
son  will  have  the  kindness  to  sasshay  out  of 
the  room.  Your  sorrowing  relatives  will  have 
all  manner  of  fun  sortins?  vou  out  when  I've 

o    «/ 

finished  with  you !    Steal  my  sweetheart,  would 
you,  not  ten  minutes  after  I'd— 

"There!"  interposed  Phelan,  shoving  his 
powerful  bulk  good-naturedly  between  the  two 
younger  men  and  linking  his  arm  in  Perry's. 


The  New  Mayor.  143 

"Now  you've  got  quite  a  bunch  of  hot  words 
off  your  chest  an'  you'll  be  in  better  shape  to 
hear  sense.  Ain't  you  just  a  little  bit 
ashamed?" 

"Ashamed?"  sputtered  Perry.  "Who?  I? 
Well,  that- 

"Yes,  you,  youngster.  And  if  you  holler 
like  that  in  comp'ny  I'll  sure  be  forced  to  wind 
up  by  spankin'  you.  Now,  stand  off  there — no, 
over  there  where  you  can  see  Miss  Garrison — 
an'  listen  to  me.  So!  Now,  first  of  all,  did 
you  happen  to  be  in  love  with  this  young  lady?" 

"It's  none  of  your  measly  business.  But 
I  did." 

"Why  did  you  ask  her  to  hitch  up  with  you 
for  keeps  ?" 

"Because  I  loved  her  and— 

"Because  you  had  a  lot  of  faith  in  her,  too, 
hey?"  persisted  the  Alderman. 

"Yes,  and  a  nice  way  she's— 

"Pretty  girl,  too!"  mused  Phelan,  as  if  to 
himself.  "In  my  young  days  if  I  could  'a'  got 
a  little  beauty  like  that  to  sign  articles  with  me 
I'd  'a'  thought  I  was  the  original  Lucky  Jim. 
I'd- 

"So  did  I!"  interrupted  Perry  hotly. 
it-r  » 

But  Phelan  was  continuing  in  the  same  ab« 
stract  monologue: 


144  The  New  Mayor. 

"And  if  I  could  'a'  seen  from  her  eyes  (like 
any  dough-head  could  see  from  Miss  Garri 
son's)  that  she  had  a  heart  as  big  as  a  water 
melon  an'  as  true  as  a  Bible  text,  an'  as  warm 
as  a  happy  man's  hearth-fire — well,  if  I'd  seen 
all  that,  an'  got  wise  to  the  gorgeous  news  that 
that  same  heart  was  just  chock-a-block  full  of 
love  for  my  own  ornery,  cheap-skate  self,  I'd 
'a'  flopped  down  on  both  knees  and  sent  up  a 
bunch  of  prayers  to  be  allowed  to  go  on  dream- 
in',  an'  never,  never  wake  up." 

Phelan  paused.  This  time  Perry  did  not 
break  in,  and  the  half-audible  monologue  con 
tinued  : 

"I'd  have  had  the  sense  to  know  that  a  girl 
with  eyes  like  those  couldn't  be  a  flirt  an' 
couldn't  double-cross  the  man  she  loved  if  her 
life  depended  on  her  doin'  it.  I'd  'a'  licked  any 
guy  that  said  she  could,  an'  if  I'd  seen  her  kiss- 
in'  another  man  I'd  'a'  punched  myself  on  the 
jaw  and  called  myself  a  liar.  That's  what  Jim 
my  Phelan,  of  the  Eighth,  would  'a'  done. 
An'- 

"Say !"  broke  in  Perry  in  a  curiously  subdued 
voice,  "these  eyes  of  mine  do  funny  things 
sometimes.  I'll  bet  nine  dollars  they  played  a 
joke  on  me  just  now.  And  even  if  they  didn't, 
I  don't  believe  'em.  Cynthia,  I'm  dead-stuck 
on  you!  You're  all  right,  even  if  you  did  hap- 


The  New  Mayor.  145 

pen  to  be  acting  a  trifle  eccentric  a  few  minutes 
ago.  You  can  explain  or  not,  as  you  like.  If 
you'll  just  say  you  love  me,  that's  ace-high  with 
yours  truly." 

He  slipped  an  arm  about  her  waist  as  he 
spoke,  awkwardly  seeking  to  atone  l^r  his  re 
cent  anger.  The  secretary  looked  at  them  for 
an  instant,  then  said  briefly : 

"You  can  tell  him,  Cynthia.  He's  a  good 
fellow.  Come  on,  Alderman.  I  think  you  and 
I  still  have  something  to  say  to  each  other." 

Cynthia  and  Perry  drifted  away  toward  the 
conservatory  again,  quite  oblivious  of  the  oth 
ers,  while  Phelan  and  the  secretary  made  their 

way  to  a  deserted  alcove  off  the  ballroom. 

****** 

"I've  been  looking  all  over  for  you,  Mr. 
Bennett,"  called  Judge  Newman,  hurrying  out 
through  the  chain  of  anterooms,  as  Alwyn  wan 
dered  out  of  the  ballroom  into  the  foyer,  a  few 
moments  later. 

"Anything  important?"  asked  Bennett, 
pausing  in  his  stroll  and  greeting  the  older 
man  cordially.  He  had  known  the  Judge  as 
long  as  he  could  remember  and  had  always  had 
a  decided  liking  for  the  pompous,  henpecked 
little  dignitary.  Surrounded  as  he  was  by  polit 
ical  intrigue,  heartache  and  association  with 
rogues,  the  harassed  young  man  rather  wel- 


146  The  New  Mayor. 

corned  the  variety  promised  by  a  chat  with 
this  old  friend  of  his  boyhood. 

"Anything  important,  Judge?"  he  repeated, 
"or  are  you  just  taking  pity  on  a  lonely  chap 
and  giving  him  a  chance  to  chat  with  you  over 
old  times?" 

"Well,"  began  the  Judge,  his  customary  air 
of  pompous  nervousness  tinged  by  an  almost 
conciliatory  manner,  "I  would  like  to  have  a 
little  business  talk  with  you,  if  you  don't  mind 
discussing  work  at  a  ball." 

"Not  at  all.  I've  had  the  honor  of  dancing 
with  three  of  your  daughters  this  evening,  and 
the  least  I  can  do  is  to  repay  such  pleasure 
by- 

"Did  you,  really?"  beamed  the  Judge,  on 
whom  the  unmarried  state  of  his  four  fast- 
aging  girls  rested  heavily.  "I'm  sure  Mrs. 
Newman  will  be  pleased.  But  this  business 
matter.  You — you  won't  misunderstand 
me- 

"Of  course  not!"  replied  Alwyn  heartily. 
"You  and  I  are  too  old  friends,  Judge,  to— 

"I  hope  so,  I  hope  so,"  conceded  Newman, 
with  growing  anxiety  in  his  tone.  "You 
see " 

"I  see  you  have  some  trouble  coming  to  the 
point,"  said  Alwyn,  pitying  the  Judge's  evi 
dent  discomfiture,  "and  I'm  sorry  you  feel  so. 


The  New  Mayor.  147 

You  were  mv  father's  friend  and  I  like  to  think 

•/ 

of  you  as  one  of  my  own  best  friends.  There 
surely  should  be  no  hesitation  in  asking  any 
thing  in  my  power  to  grant." 

Thus  emboldened,  Newman  blurted  out: 
"I — we — that  is,  it  seems  to  me  you  have 
been  a  little  hard  upon  this  Borough  Franchise 
bill,  if  you  don't  mind  my  saying  so,  Bennett. 
Couldn't  you  let  up  on  them  now?" 

"Why,  no,  Judge,  I  can't,"  replied  Bennett, 
still  failing  to  connect  Newman  with  the  Wain- 
wright-Horrigan  clique,  and  attributing  the 
Judge's  interest  in  the  matter  to  an  amateur's 
love  of  dabbling  in  politics.  "I  can't  let  up 
on  that  fight,"  he  continued.  "All  perpetual 
franchises  are  wrong,  and  this  particular  fran 
chise  bill  is  rotten  to  the  core.  In  sheer  justice 
to  my  oath  of  office  I  must  fight  it." 

"My  boy,"  said  the  Judge  in  a  fatherly  man 
ner  that  he  had  often  found  successful  in  ar 
gument,  "I  was  in  politics  long  before  you 
were  born  and  I'm  speaking  for  your  own  good 
when  I  say  I  deeply  regret  the  stand  you've 
taken  in  this  matter.  You  objected  to  the  bill 
in  its  original  form.  Almost  every  change  you 
demanded  has  been  made  in  it.  As  the  gentle 
men  who  asked  me  to  speak  to  you  said- 
He  checked  himself  a  second  too  late.  The 
narrowing  of  Bennett's  eyes  and  the  vanishing 


148  The  New  Mayor. 

of  the  friendly  light  in  the  young  man's  face 
warned  Newman  he  had  made  a  fatal  error. 

"So  you  come  to  me  as  an  emissary,  not  as 
a  friend,"  said  Bennett  slowly.  "And  the 
'gentlemen'  you  come  from— 

"Are  the  men  who  represent  all  that  can 
make  or  break  your  career — capital  and  polit 
ical  organization." 

"In  other  words,  Wainwright  and  Horri- 
gan?" 

"Yes.  All  they  ask  is  that  you  remain  neu 
tral.  Thatyou- 

"That  I  look  the  other  way  while  they  rob 
the  city?" 

"I  am  an  old  man,  Bennett,"  evaded  the 
Judge,  trying  another  tack,  "and  I've  seen  one 
rash  step  wreck  many  a  bright  career;  just 
as  this  will  wreck  yours.  Never  antagonize 
wealth  and  the  organization.  The  public  for 
whom  you  sacrifice  yourself  will  forget  you  in 
a  month.  Capital  and  politics  never  forget." 

"I  am  not  catering  to  the  public.  I  am 
acting  as  my  own  conscience— 

"But  this  is  stubbornness,  not  conscience. 
All  you  have  to  do  is  to  remain  neutral.  If  you 
do  this,  I  am  authorized  to  promise  you — now, 
listen! — to  promise  you  the  nomination  for 
Governor  when  your  term  as— 

"That's  the  bait,  is  it?"  cried  Alwyn  an- 


The  New  Mayor.  149 

grily.  "If  I  consent  to  betray  my  trust  I'll 
get  the  Governorship.  The  bribe  is  golden 
and  I  don't  wonder  at  Horrigan  for  offering 
it.  The  only  thing  that  surprises  me  is  that  he 
should  have  chosen  such  a  man  as  you  for  his 
lackey  and  go-between." 

"'Lackev!'  'Bribe!'  'Go-between!'"  echoed 

•^ 

the  Judge  in  real  indignation.  "How  dare 
you,  sir?  This— 

"Isn't  it  a  bribe?"  insisted  Alwyn;  "and 
weren't  you  the  man  chosen  to  offer  it?  It  will 
do  you  no  good  to  bluster  or  grow  indignant. 
In  your  heart  you  know  the  words  I  used  were 
deserved.  The  Governorship  offer  was  a  bribe, 
pure  and  simple,  and  worthy  the  modern  high 
waymen  who  made  it.  But  that  you,  a  Judge 
— a  former  friend  of  my  own  blameless  father 
— that  you  should  come  to  me  on  such  a  vile 
errand  turns  me  sick.  Heaven  help  Justice 
and  Right  when  our  Judges  can  be  controlled 
by  a  political  boss  and  a  roll  of  bills!  That's 
all!  I  don't  care  to  go  further  into  the  sub- 
ject!" 

Bennett  walked  away,  leaving  the  little 
Judge  to  stare  after  him,  pink  with  wrath, 
speechless  with  amazement.  In  all  his  sixty 
years  no  man  had  thus  laid  bare  to  Newman 
his  own  heart,  stripped  of  its  garments  of  re 
spectability  and  self-deception.  And,  as  usual 


150  The  New  Mayor. 

in  such  cases,  now  that  the  truth  had  been 
driven  home  to  him,  Newman  wrathfully  de 
nounced  it,  even  to  himself. 

Still  flushed  and  incoherent,  he  wheeled  to 
face  a  trio  who  were  just  returning  from  the 
supper- room.  They  were  Dallas,  Gibbs  and 
Wainwright. 

"Hello!"  exclaimed  Wainwright  in  surprise. 
"What's  the  matter  with  you,  Judge?  Are 
you  ill?" 

"If  Mrs.  Newman  should  come  to  know  of 
this!"  sputtered  the  Judge,  glaring  from  one 
to  the  other.  "She- 

"To  know  of  what  ?"  queried  Gibbs.  "What 
has  happened?" 

"Happened!"  fumed  Newman.  "I  have 
been  insulted.  Grossly,  vulgarly  insulted!" 

"Insulted,  Judge?"  repeated  Dallas.  "By 
whom?" 

"By  Alwyn  Bennett!"  snapped  the  Judge. 
"Outrageously 

"Impossible!"  exclaimed  Dallas.  "There 
must  me  a  mistake  somewhere.  Mr.  Bennett  is 
too  well  bred  to  insult  any  man,  much  less  a 
man  so  much  older  than— 

"A  gentleman,  is  he?  I  should  not  have  be 
lieved  it.  He  has  insulted  me  most— 

"I'm  not  surprised,"  observed  Wainwright. 

"I  am!"  announced  Dallas, 


The  New  Mayor.  151 

"Naturally!"  sneered  Wainwright.  "If  you 
can  remain  on  speaking  terms  with  him  after 
his  abominable  treatment  of  me  you  can  easily 
overlook  any  other  brutality  of  his." 

"Tell  us  about  it,  Judge,"  interposed  Gibbs, 
seeking  to  avert  any  further  clash  between 
uncle  and  niece. 

"I  went  to  him,"  began  Newman,  "bearing 
a  request  from — from— 

The  Judge  paused.  It  was  not  wholly  easy 
to  present  matters  to  this  honest-eyed  young 
girl  in  such  a  way  as  to  bring  her  to  his  way  of 
thinking.  But  Wainwright  felt  no  difficulty. 
His  shrewd  brain  caught  at  a  means  of  turn 
ing  the  affair  to  account. 

"You  see,  Dallas,"  the  financier  broke  in 
with  a  warning  glance  to  Newman,  "I  begged 
the  Judge  to  intercede  for  me  with  Bennett, 
to  ask  him  to  bury  the  hatchet  and  let  us  be 
friends  again  for  the  sake  of  old  times.  I 
thought  Judge  Newman's  age  and  his  high  of 
fice  would  compel  a  certain  respect,  even  with 
a  man  of  Bennett's  character.  But  I  was 
wrong,  and  I  am  sorry,  Judge,  for  the  unjust 
humiliation  I  caused  you." 

"I  don't  understand,"  said  Dallas,  looking 
in  bewilderment  from  one  to  the  other. 
"Judge,  my  uncle  sent  you  to  make  overtures 
of  peace?  And  Mr,  Bennett  refused  to — — " 


152  The  New  Mayor. 

"He  not  only  refused,  but  called  Mr.  Wain- 
wright  a  highwayman,  and 

"But  why?"  demanded  Dallas. 

"He  pretended  to  misunderstand  what  I 
said  about  the  conditions." 

"Oh,  it  was  a  conditional  offer,  then?  I 
thought— 

"Certainly  there  were  conditions,"  cut  in 
Wainwright,  again  coming  to  the  emissary's 
rescue.  "I  asked  that  he  take  a  position  of 
neutrality  in  regard  to  this  Borough  bill.  Sim 
ply  neutral,  mind  you!  Not  to  change  his  at 
titude  in  its  favor,  or " 

"That  was  a  splendidly  fair  offer!"  cried 
Gibbs  enthusiastically. 

"So  it  seemed  to  me,"  agreed  Newman;  "but 
Bennett  would  not  listen  when  I  tried  to  point 
out  his  proper  line  of  duty.  He  called  me  a 
go-between  and " 

"Even  after  you  told  him  we  were  granting 
practically  all  the  concessions  he  had  asked  in 
the  bill?"  queried  Gibbs. 

"Yes,"  said  Newman.  "He  must  have  some 
motive  behind  it  all.  I  can't " 

"Nonsense!"  exclaimed  Dallas.  "What  ul 
terior  motive  could  he  have?" 

"That  is  more  than  I  know  positively,"  re 
turned  the  Judge  mysteriously. 


The  New  Mayor.  153 

"But  I  do,"  declared  Wainwright,  pointing 
at  Dallas.  "There  are  the  reasons!" 

"I?"  exclaimed  Dallas,  incredulously.  "Ex 
plain,  please!" 

"Willingly,"  replied  her  uncle,  "if  you'll 
give  me  a  fair  hearing.  Bennett  is  in  love  with 
you.  He  knows  Gibbs  also  .Mashes  to  marry 
you.  He  knows,  too,  that  Gibbs 's  fortune  de 
pends  on  the  success  of  the  Borough  franchise. 
If  the  bill  is  beaten,  Gibbs  will  be  practically 
ruined  and  thus  in  no  position  to  marry.  We've 
known  all  along  of  this  reason  of  Bennett's  for 
fighting  our  bill,  but  Gibbs  forbade  me  to  tell 
you.  He  was  afraid  you  might  think  he " 

"I  don't  believe  one  word  of  it!"  cried  Dallas, 
her  big  eyes  ablaze.  "Alwyn  Bennett  could 
not  stoop  to  such  a  thing." 

"No?"  said  Wainwright.  "Then  you  prob 
ably  will  refuse  to  believe  what  I  am  about  to 
tell  you  now.  I  considered  Borough  stock  a 
safe  investment  and  I  put  all  your  money  and 
Perry's  in  it.  Bennett  knows  this,  and  in  spite 
of  the  knowledge  he  is  trying  to  kill  the  fran 
chise,  even  on  the  certainty  of  beggaring  you 
and  Perry  along  with  Gibbs.  If  only  he  can 
ruin  Gibbs  he  cares  nothing  about  making  you 
and  Perry  paupers,  too.  That  is  the  sort  of 
man  you  are  defending  against  your  own  uncle. 
X  have  just  learned  besides  that  he  has  secretly, 


The  New  Mayor. 

through  his  brokers,  sold  large  blocks  of  Bor 
ough  stock  short.  Thus  his  veto,  that  ruins  us, 
will  make  him  a  very  rich  man." 

"It  isn't  true!"  affirmed  Dallas  in  dogged 
certainty.  "Mr.  Gibbs,  do  you  confirm  this 
story  of  my  uncle's?" 

"Please  leave  me  out  of  this,  Miss  Wain- 
wright,"  answered  Gibbs  gently.  "I  prefer  to 
say  nothing  to  prejudice  you.  When  I  fight 
I  fight  fair." 

"Even  at  the  cost  of  all  your  money," 
amended  Wainwright.  "Gibbs,  this  is  carry 
ing  your  sense  of  honor  to  an  absurd  point. 
And  Bennett  will- 

"Pardon  me,"  broke  in  Alwyn,  entering  the 
foyer  and  going  up  to  Dallas.  "I'm  a  little 
late  for  our  dance.  I  was  detained  by— 

"Alwyn!"  exclaimed  Dallas  in  relief.  "I'm 
so  glad  you  came  here  just  when  you  did.  Now 
we  can  clear  this  up  in  a  word." 

"Clear  what  up?"  queried  Bennett,  glancing 
about  in  suspicion  at  the  three  silent  men. 

"You  know  Mr.  Gibbs  is  favored  in  the  Bor 
ough  Street  Railway  affair,"  began  Dallas. 
"He  told  you  so  at  your  office  that  day  we  were 
there.  Well- 

"Yes;  but  don't  let's  discuss  business  to 
night,"  replied  Bennett.  "This  is  our  dance, 
and " 


The  New  Mayor.  155 

"Wait,  please!  You  knew  his  fortune  was 
largely  tied  up  in  Borough  stock.  But  here  is 
something  you  didn't  know.  My  uncle  says 
my  money  and  Perry's  is  all  invested  in  that 
stock,  and  that  if  you  defeat  the  bill  we  will 
be  dependent  on  Mr.  Wainwright's  charity.  If 
that  is  true,  you  didn't  know  it,  did  you?" 

Her  voice  was  almost  tremulous  in  its  eager, 
confident  appeal.  But  Bennett  forced  himself 
to  answer: 

"Yes ;  it  is  true.    And  I  knew  it." 

The  eager  glow  died  from  her  eyes,  leaving 
a  look  of  dawning  horror. 

"And  knowing  this — knowing  Perry  and  I 
shall  be  made  paupers  by  your  action — you 
still  insist  on— 

"On  opposing  the  bill?  Yes.  I  am  sorry, 
but  it  is  my  duty." 

"Duty!"  sneered  Wainwright.  "Your  'duty' 
was  done  when  you  vetoed  the  bill.  That  act 
made  your  position  clear  and  showed  the  pub 
lic  how  you  regarded  the  measure.  So  why 
go  on  fighting  it  after— 

"I  won't  discuss  this  with  you,  Mr.  Wain 
wright,"  interrupted  Bennett.  "We  already 
understand  one  another,  you  and  I !" 

"My  uncle  says,"  pursued  Dallas,  "that  you 
made  your  broker  secretly  sell  Borough  stock 


156  The  New  Mayor. 

short,  knowing  the  deal  would  enrich  you. 
Won't  you  even  deny  this?" 

"No." 

"You  realize  what  all  this  foolish  stubborn 
ness  must  mean  to  me — to  all  of  us,"  continued 
Dallas,  "and  you  still  persist  in  your  opposi 
tion?" 

"I  must,"  said  Bennett.  "I  can't  turn  back. 
Oh,  Dallas,"  dropping  his  voice  till  none  but 
she  could  hear,  "can't  you  trust  me?  Only  till 
Friday?  I'll  come  to  you  on  Saturday  morn 
ing  and  tell  you  the  whole  miserable  story.  I 
only  ask  you  to  wait  until  then.  Please 

"I  see  no  need  of  waiting  for  an  explana 
tion,"  retorted  Dallas  aloud.  "I  understand 
everything." 

"But  you  don't  understand!"  insisted  Al- 
wyn.  "I- 

"I  understand  only  too  well/'  repeated  Dal 
las.  Checking  his  reply  and  ignoring  the  an 
guished  appeal  in  his  eyes,  she  turned  to  Gibbs. 

"I  have  kept  you  waiting  long  for  your  an 
swer,  Mr.  Gibbs,"  she  said,  speaking  in  a  level, 
firm,  emotionless  voice.  "I  am  prepared  to 
give  it  to  you  now — publicly.  You  have  often 
asked  me  if  I  would  be  your  wife.  My  reply 
is — yes." 

"Dallas!"  gasped  Bennett  in  horrified  sur 
prise. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

A  MIDNIGHT  VISITOR. 

ALWYN  BENNETT  sat  in  his  own  study  at 
home,  in  the  big  Bennett  house,  that  remained 
as  almost  the  last  landmark  of  that  solid, 
middle-nineteenth-century  wealth  and  fashion 
which  had  once  dominated  a  neighborhood  now 
given  over  to  office  buildings  and  apartment- 
houses. 

The  hour  was  late.  An  hour  and  more  had 
passed  since  the  young  Mayor  and  his  mother 
had  returned  from  the  Administration  Ball. 
The  house  was  silent,  and  even  the  usually  busy 
streets  outside  were  wrapped  in  the  hush  that 
never  falls  until  after  midnight  and  is  dis 
persed  by  the  gray  of  dawn.  Late  as  it  was, 
Alwyn  had  made  no  move  to  discard  his  eve 
ning  clothes.  Alone  he  sat,  his  head  resting  be 
tween  his  crossed  arms  on  the  desk  before  him. 

Motionless,  inert,  hopeless,  he  had  remained 
there  ever  since  his  arrival  from  the  ball.  But 
if  his  body  was  powerless  his  brain  was  awhirl. 

157 


158  The  New  Mayor. 

Try  as  he  would  he  could  see  no  light  in  the 
tangle  of  events  into  which  his  own  sense  of 
right  had  plunged  him.  He  saw  the  future 
stretching  out  before  him  dreary  and  barren  as 
a  rainy  sea. 

Through  all  of  his  months  of  battling,  he 
had  ever  struggled  forward  through  increasing 
difficulties  toward  one  bright  goal — Dallas's 
love.  And  now  that  love  was  snatched  from  his 
grasp,  through  no  fault  of  his  own,  and  be 
stowed  on  a  man  unworthy  to  kiss  the  hem  of 
her  garment. 

At  each  step  in  the  long  climb,  Alwyn  had 
asked  himself,  "Would  she  approve?"  And 
now,  through  trying  to  be  worthy  that  approv 
al,  he  had  forever  lost  it.  For  Dallas,  he  knew, 
had  not  only  rejected  him  and  engaged  herself 
to  Gibbs,  but  had  done  so  with  the  belief  that 
Bennett  was  a  heartless,  unscrupulous  in 
triguer,  undeserving  a  good  woman's  regard. 

A  rap  at  the  door  aroused  Bennett  from  his 
bitter  thoughts.  He  lifted  his  head  wearily 
and  gave  word  to  enter.  A  drowsy  servant 
came  in  with  a  card. 

"He  says  it's  important  business,  sir,"  said 
the  footman;  "and  he  wishes  to  see  you  at 
once  if  possible." 

"Show  him  up,"  answered  Bennett,  drop 
ping  his  voice  so  as  not  to  disturb  his  mother, 


The  New  Mayor.  159 

who  slept  on  the  same  floor.  "I  will  see  him 
here." 

A  minute  later  Horrigan's  bulky  form 
blocked  the  threshold. 

"Queer  time  of  night  for  a  call,"  he  ob 
served  casually,  as  he  entered  uninvited,  closed 
the  door  behind  him  and  took  a  chair.  "But 
my  business  wouldn't  wait." 

"Then  state  it  as  briefly  as  you  can,"  directed 
Bennett,  making  no  move  to  rise  or  welcome 
his  unbidden  guest.  "It  is  very  late  and  I  am 
tired." 

"I've  come  to  see  you  about  our  Borough 
bill." 

"So  I  supposed." 

"You  won't  call  off  your  fight  against  us?" 

"That  question  is  hardly  worth  answering. 
No!" 

"I  thought  not.  Well,  Mr.  Alwyn  Ben 
nett,  I've  got  you!  I've  got  you!  Do  you 
understand  me?" 

"Perfectly.    Is  that  all?" 

"No,  it  ain't  all,"  mimicked  the  Boss.  "And 
I'm  in  earnest.  I've  got  you  where  I  want 

you." 

"That  doesn't  interest  me.  If  you've  noth 
ing  else  to  say " 

"But  I  have!"  chuckled  Horrigan.    "When 


160  The  New  Mayor. 

it  came  to  a  show-down  between  us  two,  I  put 
a  staff  of  men  to  looking  up  your  record." 

"You  found  nothing  you  could  use.  Is 
that- 

"No,  it  isn't  even  the  beginning.  Then  I 
remembered  about  your  father." 

"About  my  father?" 

It  grated  on  Bennett  that  his  dead  father's 
honored  name  should  be  spoken  by  this  low 
politician.  But  before  he  could  protest  more 
forcibly,  Horrigan  went  on: 

"What  d'j^ou  think  if  I  said  your  father 
was  a  grafter — one  of  the  worst  of  his  time?" 

"I'd  say  you  lied,"  answered  Bennett  calm 
ly,  "and  I'd  drive  the  foul  lie  down  your  throat 
with  my  fist.  You'll  have  to  think  of  some 
better  scheme  than  that." 

"Do  you  think  I'd  be  idiot  enough  to  come 
here  with  the  story  if  I  didn't  have  full  proof 
of  it?"  asked  Horrigan  in  contempt. 

And,  despite  himself,  Alwyn  saw  the  man 
was  speaking  what  he  believed  to  be  the  truth. 
He  paused  in  his  impulsive  forward  move,  re 
seated  himself  and  asked  coldly: 

"What  so-called  'proofs'  have  you  been 
fooled  by  your  heelers  into  thinking " 

"Don't  believe  me,  hey?  Well,  you  will  fast 
enough  before  I'm  done,  unless  you're  afraid 
of  what  I've  got  to  say." 


The  New  Mayor.  161 

"I'm  not  afraid  of  anything  you  can  say. 
The  highest  tribute  to  my  father's  memory  is 
the  fact  that  a  cur  like  you  cannot  defile  it.  Go 
on!  I'll  listen  to  you." 

"Very  good,"  said  Horrigan,  quite  unmoved. 
"I'll  make  it  as  short  as  I  can.  I  remembered 
your  father  got  rich  pretty  quick.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  organization  and  his  firm  got 
the  jobs  of  building  the  aqueduct  and  the  new 
library.  That  gave  me  my  cue.  I  looked  up 
the  specifications  for  both  jobs,  and  I  turned 
them  over  to  the  old  engineering  firm  of  Morris 
&  Cherrington.  You  know  the  firm,  perhaps. 
If  you  don't  you  can  look  them  up.  They  don't 
belong  to  the  organization ;  they're  the  best  ex 
perts  in  their  line,  and  they  can't  be  juggled 
with." 

"I  know  them.    Go  on!" 

"I  paid  them  a  fancy  sum  to  go  over  those 
specifications  and  then  examine  the  library  and 
the  aqueduct  and  see  if  they  were  up  to  the 
mark,  or  if  the  city'd  been  cheated  by  the  Ben 
nett  Contracting  Company.  I  had  a  strong 
idea  I  was  right,  but  I  wouldn't  speak  till  I 
had  the  proof.  When  I  got  home  after  the  ball 
to-night  I  found  the  Morris  &  Cherrington  re 
port  waiting  for  me.  I  brought  a  copy  of  it 
along  with  me." 


162  The  New  Mayor. 

"Well,"  asked  Bennett  indifferently,  "what 
then?" 

"Here's  the  copy  of  the  report.  Look  it 
over  for  yourself.  The  crookedest  job  ever 
pulled  off  in  this  city.  Third-rate  material, 
when  the  material  called  for  in  the  specifica 
tions  was  used  at  all.  Granite  shell  filled  with 
mortar  instead  of  solid  granite;  foundations 
barely  half  the  depth  called  for;  inferior  tiles 
in  place  of  fire-proof  ones ;  cheap,  crumbly  iron 
and  steel  instead  of  first  quality — oh,  there's 
fifty  such  substitutions  and  frauds!  It's  the 
rawest,  bummest  job  I  ever  heard  of.  If  any 
of  the  organization  tried  it  nowadays  the  men 
who  did  it  would  be  wearing  stripes  in  a  week. 
Graft,  hey?  Why,  your  father  was  the  boss 
grafter  of  the  century.  The  star  graft-getter 
of  the  bunch.  He- 

"Hush !  For  God's  sake,  hush !"  panted  Al- 
wyn.  "My  mother  sleeps  only  a  few  rooms 
beyond.  I 

"What  do  I  care?"  roared  Horrigan  in  tri 
umph.  "Let  everybody  hear!  The  whole 
world  is  going  to  hear  it  unless  that  Borough 
Franchise  bill  goes  through.  Beat  that  bill  and 
every  paper  in  the  country  will  have  that  re 
port  to  publish.  Stop  your  fight  against  us 
and  the  report  is  burned.  That  goes!  See? 
Now,  do  as  you  please  about  the  bill.  You're 


The  New  Mayor.  163 

a  fine  man  to  preach  about  graft,  you  are!  The 
very  roof  over  your  head — the  clothes  on  your 
back,  were  bought  with  graft  money!" 

Bennett  scarcely  heeded  the  coarse  insult. 
Nor  did  he  note  Horrigan's  grunt  of  good-by 
and  the  clumping  of  his  departing  feet  on  the 
stairs.  The  young  man  sat,  lost,  hopeless, 
horror-gripped,  his  eyes  running  mechanically 
over  the  closely  typewritten  pages  of  the  engi 
neer's  report.  Outsider  as  he  was  in  matters 
of  practical  business,  Alwyn  could  see  that 
Horrigan  had  in  no  way  exaggerated  the  docu 
ment's  contents.  He  knew,  too,  that  the  firm 
of  engineers  who  had  drawn  up  the  report  were 
the  foremost  of  their  sort  and  above  all  shadow 
of  suspicion. 

Little  by  little  the  numbness  lifted  from  his 
brain,  and  in  its  place  crept  a  horrible  convic 
tion  of  the  truth.  His  father — the  gallant 
young  soldier  who  had  won  a  nation's  applause 
in  the  Civil  War — the  man  who,  poor  and  un 
aided,  had  built  up  a  fortune  against  keenest 
competition  and  had  earned  a  repute  for  ster 
ling  probity  which  had  ever  been  the  delight 
and  model  of  his  son — this  was  the  man  whom 
a  low  blackguard  like  Horrigan  now  had  the 
right  to  revile;  a  man  apparently  no  better 
than  the  Boss  himself — than  any  dishonest 
heeler  in  the  organization! 


The  New  Mayor. 

And — as  if  it  were  not  enough  that  the  idol 
of  a  lifetime  were  hurled,  crushed  and  defiled, 
from  its  bright  pedestal — the  family  name 
must  next  be  dragged  through  the  mire  of 
political  filth  and  ill-repute  and  the  dead  man's 
memory  forever  blasted.  Either  that  or  his 
son  must  withdraw  from  the  gallant  fight  he 
was  waging  against  civic  corruption.  For, 
that  Horrigan  would  carry  out  his  threat  and 
blazon  the  story  and  proofs  of  the  elder  Ben 
nett's  shame,  Alwyn  had  no  doubt.  With  all 
his  faults  the  Boss  was  a  man  of  his  word. 

"Stop  your  fight  against  us,"  Horrigan  had 
said,  "and  the  report  is  burned." 

Yes,  the  Boss  was  a  man  of  his  word.  Even 
Bennett  admitted  that.  He  would  fulfil  his 
promise  in  either  event. 

Listlessly,  Alwyn  began  to  review  the  case. 
On  the  one  side  a  perhaps  Quixotic  fight  for 
an  abstract  principle,  a  fight  whose  reward  was 
political  death,  loss  of  the  woman  he  adored, 
family  shame  that  might  crush  his  fragile  old 
mother  to  the  very  grave.  On  the  other, 
wealth,  honor,  love,  the  Governorship,  a  future 
happy  and  glorious. 

Was  he  not  a  fool  to  hesitate?  Had  he  not 
salved  his  conscience  sufficiently  by  vetoing 
the  Borough  Franchise  bill?  Had  he  the  right 


The  New  Mayor.  165 

to  bring  this  new  shame  upon  his  mother's  gray 
head?  Where  lay  his  highest  duty? 

The  soft  rustling  of  silk  and  a  hand  laid  in 
light  caress  upon  his  head  aroused  the  miser 
able  man  from  his  reflections. 

Bennett  looked  up  to  see  his  mother  stand 
ing  beside  him.  She  had  thrown  on  a  wrapper 
and,  in  slippered  feet,  had  stolen  noiselessly 
into  the  study. 

"I  was  awakened  by  voices,"  she  explained. 
"I  thought  I  heard  some  one  talking  excitedly 
in  here.  Is  anything  the  matter?" 

"Nothing,  nothing,  dear,"  he  answered  gen 
tly,  drawing  the  little  old  lady  affectionately 
down  to  a  seat  on  his  knee,  and  smiling  man 
fully  into  her  sleep-flushed  face.  "Nothing  is 
the  matter.  Only  a  business  call." 

"A  business  call  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing!"  she  exclaimed.  "Dear  boy,  you  are  work 
ing  too  hard.  Your  father  never  brought  his 
business  worries  and  work  home.  He  always 
left  them  at  the  office.  Can't  you  do  the  same? 
You'll  wear  yourself  out." 

"My  father—  '  began  Bennett;  but  the 
name  choked  him. 

"You  are  growing  to  be  so  much  like  him," 
went  on  Mrs.  Bennett  fondly.  "And  it  makes 
me  so  happy  that  you  are.  Your  splendid  fight 
against  that  infamous  Borough  bill,  for  in- 


166  The  New  Mayor. 

stance — how  proud  he  would  have  been  of  that! 
It  is  just  the  sort  of  thing  he  himself  would 
have  done  in  your  place.  He  was  surrounded 
with  wicked  and  dishonest  men,  just  as  you 
arc.  But  through  it  all  he  remained  true,  hon 
orable,  incorruptible.  What  a  grand  heritage 
for  any  son!  He — Alwyn!"  she  broke  off 
alarmed,  "why  do  you  look  at  me  that  way?  I 
never  saw  such  a  look  in  your  eyes  before. 
Are  you  ill?  Has  something  happened  that 
you  are  keeping  from  me?" 

"No,  no,"  evaded  Bennett.    "I  only- 

"You  had  a  caller  here  before  I  came  in," 
pursued  the  mother,  refusing  to  abandon  the 
clue  to  which  her  womanly  intuition  had  led 
her.  "He  brought  you  bad  news?  Tell  me, 
dear!  I'm  your  mother  and  I  love  you!" 

"You  are  making  my  course  more  difficult 
for  me  by  asking  such  questions,  mother,"  he 
answered  wretchedly;  "and  I— 

"I  only  want  to  help  you,  Alwyn.  I  can't 
bear  to  see  you  miserable.  A  woman's  wit  and 
a  mother's  love  are  often  a  combination  that 
can  solve  problems  beyond  even  the  wisest 
man's  powers  of  logic.  Let  me  help  you." 

"I  was  trying  to  make  up  my  mind,"  vague 
ly  replied  Bennett,  sorely  distressed  by  her 
pleading,  "whether  a  man  ought  to  follow  his 
conscience,  even  if  it  leads  to  heartbreak  for 


The  New  Mayor.  167 

those  he  loves,  or  whether  he  ought  to  let  con 
science  go  by  the  board  for  once  and  protect 
the  happiness  of  his  loved  ones." 

"Alwyn!  How  can  you  hesitate  a  second 
over  such  a  question?  One  must  do  right,  no 
matter  what  the  consequence." 

"I  don't  know  about  that,"  he  said  moodily. 

"You  know  it  perfectly  well.  It  is  what 
your  father  would  have  advised  and- —  But, 
Alwyn,  you  surely  are  not  making  yourself 
unhappy  over  a  mere  supposititious  case?" 

"Well,"  he  continued,  "let  us  take  a  'mere 
supposititious  case'  if  you  like.  Suppose,  for  in 
stance,  that  a  man,  holding  a  position  of  trust, 
had  had  a  father  whose  memory  he  honored  and 
revered  as  I  do  my  own  father's— 

"Yes?"  prompted  Mrs.  Bennett,  as  he 
paused. 

"Suppose  some  one  tempts  him  to  betray 
his  position  of  trust — even  as  I  have  lately  been 
tempted — and  threatens,  in  case  of  his  refusal, 
to  make  public  certain  facts  which  would  prove 
his  dead  father  to  have  been  a  scoundrel.  Now, 
what  should  the  man  do?  Should  he  let  his 
father's  sacred  memory  be  trampled  in  the 
mud,  let  his  duty  go  by  default  and  save ! 

"It  would  be  an  awful  responsibility  to  de 
cide  such  a  question,"  said  Mrs.  Bennett  with 


168  The  New  Mayor. 

a  little  shudder;  "but  there  could  be  only  one 
reply." 

"And  that  is?" 

"He  must  remain  faithful  to  his  duty,  be 
the  results  what  they  may." 

"You  really  think  so?" 

"There  can  be  no  doubt.  Right  is  right, 
and- 

"It  shall  be  as  you  say!"  groaned  Alwyn. 

"What?"  queried  Mrs.  Bennett,  startled  at 
the  despair  in  his  voice.  "Do  you  mean  it  is 
an  actual  case?  Some  friend  of  yours,  per 
haps?" 

Bennett  nodded. 

"Oh,  the  poor,  poor  fellow!"  she  sympa 
thized.  "What  a  terrible  position  for  him! 
It  was  he,  perhaps,  that  I  heard  talking  to 
you  in  here  just  now?  No  wonder  he  seemed 
excited.  'The  sins  of  the  fathers  shall  be  visit 
ed  upon  the  children,  even  unto  the 

"It  is  sometimes  less  hard  on  the  children 
than  on  the  wives,"  mused  Bennett,  half  to 
himself. 

"The  wives?  Your  friend  has  a  mother  liv 
ing?  That  makes  it  doubly  tragic.  How  I 
wish  I  might  help  her!  Oh,  my  son,  every  day 
I  thank  God  in  all  humility  that  my  husband 
lived  so  blameless  a  life  and  left  so  honored 


The  New  Mayor.  169 

a  name !  How  grateful  you  and  I  both  ought 
to  be  for— 

"It  is  easy  enough  to  decide  for  some  one 
you  have  never  seen,"  retorted  Bennett,  al 
most  rudely;  "but  suppose  the  dishonest  man 
in  my  story  had  been  father,  and— 

"I  refuse  to  suppose  anything  of  the  sort!" 
interrupted  his  mother  indignantly,  rising  to 
her  feet.  "I  wonder  that  you  can  speak  so! 
How  can  you  suggest  so  horrible  a  thing?" 

"Just  a  thoughtless,  tactless  speech  of  mine, 
that's  all,"  lied  Alwyn.  "It's  very  late.  You'll 
have  a  headache,  I'm  afraid.  Won't  you  go  to 
bed?" 

"Yes;  it  is  late.  And  I'm  keeping  you  up. 
Good-night,  dear.  I  wish  your  friend- 
She  checked  herself  suddenly  with  a  little 
gasp.  Bennett,  glancing  up  to  learn  the  rea 
son,  saw  her  eyes  were  riveted  on  a  bit  of  paste 
board  lying  on  the  corner  of  his  desk  directly 
beneath  the  reading  lamp. 

It  was  Horrigan's  card. 

Slowly  the  mother's  gaze  shifted  from  the 
card  to  her  son.  From  her  face  the  color  had 
been  crushed  by  some  swift  emotion  that  left 
it  very  old,  pale  and  sunken. 

"Mr.  Horrigan!"  she  murmured.  "It  was 
he  who  was  your  visitor  to-night?  Surely  he 


170  The  New  Mayor. 

isn't  the  sort  of  man  to  care  about  his  father's 
reputation  for  honesty.  He— 

"You're  tired,  mother,"  interrupted  Ben 
nett  in  haste.  "Won't  you— 

"Wait!"  she  panted.  "His  visit  here— Al- 
wyn!"  her  voice  rising  to  a  wail  of  panic-strick 
en  appeal,  "did — did  that  man  dare  to  hint  any 
thing  against  your  father?  Tell  me  the  truth! 
I  have  a  right  to  know.  Did  he?" 

Alwyn  bowed  his  head  in  silence. 

"Tell  me  what  he  said." 

It  was  no  appeal  now,  but  the  outraged  love 
of  a  wife  that  demanded  satisfaction. 

"He  said,"  muttered  Bennett,  almost  inco 
herently — "he  said  my  father  made  his  fortune 
-by— graft!" 

"And  you  thrashed  him  and  threw  him  out 
of  the  house?"  she  cried,  her  old  eyes  ablaze. 

"No." 

"Alwyn!" 

"He — he  proved  what  he  said!" 

"It  is  a  lie!    A  wicked,  abominable  lie!" 

"It  is  the  truth,  mother.  Would  I  have  told 
you  such  a  thing — would  Horrigan  have  left 
this  room  alive — if  it  were  not  true?" 

A  silence — dreadful  in  its  intensity — fell 
over  the  room.  Alwvn  dared  not  look  at  his 

•i 

mother.    At  last  she  spoke: 


The  New  Mayor.  171 

"I  must  know  more;  I  refuse  to  believe  one 
word.  You  spoke  of  proofs.  What  are  they?" 

Without  a  word,  Bennett  handed  her  the 
engineer's  report.  And  again  tense  silence 
brooded  over  the  study,  broken  only  by  the  oc 
casional  turning  of  a  page  of  the  report.  Then, 
after  what  seemed  to  Alwyn  an  eternity  of 
waiting,  the  document  slid  to  the  floor.  Ben 
nett  glanced  at  his  mother.  She  was  standing 
rigid,  her  face  cold  and  hard  as  granite. 

"Horrigan  has  ferreted  this  out,"  he  said, 
not  daring  to  draw  nearer  to  proffer  comfort  to 
the  woman  whom  the  Boss's  disclosure  had 
turned  to  stone.  "He  has  secured  the  proofs 
and  says  he  will  publish  them  broadcast  unless 
I  withdraw  my  opposition  in  the  Borough  fran 
chise  matter.  If  I  let  that  bill  pass,  Friday, 
he  will  burn  the  report  and— 

"There  is  only  one  thing  to  do,"  interposed 
the  mother,  speaking  with  slow  decision,  her 
voice  as  cold  and  colorless  as  her  face.  "Right 
must  prevail,  no  matter  what— 

"Mother!"  cried  Alwyn,  quickly  rising, 
"you  advise  me  to — you  advise  me " 

"I  do  not  advise — I  command!    Do  right!" 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


THE  DAY  OF   BATTLE/' 


THE  momentous  Friday  had  arrived,  the 
day  whereon  the  famous — or  infamous — Bor 
ough  Street  Railway  bill  in  its  amended  form 
was  to  come  up  for  the  Aldermen's  considera 
tion. 

Every  paper  in  the  city  devoted  columns  to 
the  situation.  Everywhere  it  was  known  that 
the  "boy  Mayor"  was  fighting  with  all  his 
might  the  bill  he  had  already  vetoed.  Equally 
well  was  it  understood  that  Horrigan  was 
making  the  battle  of  his  whole  career  in  behalf 
of  the  measure.  If  he  could  but  induce  his 
"solid  thirteen"  Aldermen  to  stand  firm  and 
could  maintain  his  hold  on  Roberts  for  the  four 
teenth,  all  would  be  plain  sailing,  and  the  bill 
wrould  pass  by  a  two-thirds  vote,  in  spite  of 
the  Mavor's  veto. 

m/ 

More  than  the  mere  bill  and  his  price  for  it 
were  included  in  Horrigan's  reasons  for  his 
present  activity.  He  recognized  that  his  pres- 

173 


The  New  Mayor.  173 

tige  as  Boss  was  at  stake.  That  in  case  of 
failure  his  hold  on  the  organization  would  be 
considerably  weakened;  perhaps  almost  so 
much  shaken  as  to  permit  Phelan  to  fulfil  his 
once  absurd  threat  to  tear  him  down  from  his 
eminence.  For  the  whole  organization  was 
viewing  with  breathless  interest  the  duel  be 
tween  Horrigan  and  the  youthful  Mayor  the 
Boss  had  "made."  In  such  circles  a  beaten 

man  commands  scant  respect. 

****** 

The  Board  of  Aldermen  were  in  session  in 
the  City  Hall.  Off  the  antechamber  of  the 
great  room  where  they  met  was  a  small,  snugly 
furnished  apartment,  first  of  a  series  of  similar 
rooms  that  stretched  away,  with  connecting 
doors,  to  the  far  end  of  the  main  corridor. 
This  place,  with  the  room  adjoining,  had  once 
been  the  Comptroller's  office.  Of  late,  how 
ever,  that  official  had  changed  his  quarters,  and 
the  room  nearest  the  antechamber  had  been 
appropriated  by  Horrigan  himself  as  a  sort 
of  unofficial  snuggery,  where  he  could  sit  at 
ease  and  transact  business  at  close  quarters 
whenever  the  organization's  secret  interests 
demanded  his  presence  at  the  City  Hall. 

Here,  his  whereabouts  known  only  to  his 
intimates  and  personal  lieutenants,  the  Boss 
was  wont  to  sit  at  ease,  like  some  fat,  rubicund 


174  The  New  Mayor. 

spider  in  the  center  of  a  web  of  intrigue,  and 
issue  his  orders  or  plans  of  campaign.  Some 
of  these  were  carried  by  word  of  mouth 
through  the  anteroom  into  the  Aldermanic 
Chamber.  Others  he  transmitted  bv  means  of 

v 

a  telephone  that  stood  ready  on  the  center 
table,  before  which  his  great  easy  chair  was 
always  placed. 

Around  this  table,  as  the  Board  of  Alder 
men  were  about  to  convene  on  the  fateful  Fri 
day  of  the  Borough  bill's  final  consideration, 
sat  three  men — Wainwright,  Gibbs  and  Hor- 
rigan.  The  former,  in  spite  of  his  habitual 
steady  coolness,  was  plainly  uneasy.  Gibbs 
made  no  effort  to  deny  his  anxiety.  His  eyes 
were  bloodshot,  his  manner  abstracted,  and  his 
nerves  evidently  strung  to  breaking  point. 
Horrigan  alone  of  the  trio  had  abated  not  one 
jot  of  the  colossal  calm  and  brutal  power  that 
were  part  and  parcel  of  the  man's  mighty  char 
acter. 

"When  will  our  bill  come  up,  do  you  sup 
pose?"  asked  Gibbs,  breaking  a  brief  silence. 

"In  half  an  hour  or  so,  probably,"  answered 
Horrigan,  glancing  at  his  watch.  "I  thought 
it  was  better  for  us  to  get  here  ahead  of  time." 

"Half  an  hour!"  fumed  Gibbs;  "and  neither 
Ellis  nor  Roberts  here  yet !  Suppose  they  don't 
get  here  on  time?" 


The  New  Mayor.  175 

"They  will!"  grunted  Horrigan  placidly. 

"Do  you  think  it  is  possible  either  of  them 
has  come  yet?"  went  on  Gibbs,  with  a  glance 
at  the  antechamber  door. 

"No." 

"How  do  you  know?    Perhaps " 

"Williams  would  have  told  me.  He  knows 
where  I'm  to  be  found." 

"You're  sure  Ellis  and  Roberts  will  show 
up?" 

"Yes." 

"How  soon?" 

"In  good  time." 

"But  suppose  they  don't?"  insisted  Gibbs 
nervously.  "What  then?" 

"Why,  if  they  don't,  then  they  won't.  What 
do  you  suppose?"  snapped  Horrigan.  "What's 
the  matter  with  you,  anyhow?  Are  you  look 
ing  for  a  museum  job  as  the  Human  Question 
Mark?" 

"Gibbs  is  naturally  nervous,"  explained 
Wainwright.  "He's  not  so  old  at  this  game 
as  you  and  I,  Horrigan,  and  we  must  make 
allowances." 

"Nervous!"  grunted  the  Boss.  "I  should 
say  he  is!  Just  look  at  that  cigar  I  gave  him. 
He's  been  chewing  it  as  if  it  was  a  sausage. 
That's  no  way  to  treat  a  fifty-cent  cigar,  man! 
Here,  try  another,  and  see  if  you  can't  smoke 


176  The  New  Mayor. 

it,  instead  of  eating  a  free  lunch  off  it.  Noth 
ing  like  a  good  smoke  to  steady  your  nerves. 
If- 

The  antechamber  door  opened  and  Williams 
hurried  in. 

"I  got  Ellis!"  he  reported.  "He's  here, 
and" — with  significant  emphasis — "he'll  vote 
right!" 

"Good!"  assented  Horrigan.  "I  thought 
he'd  come  to  time.  Now  for  Roberts,  and  the 
thing's  done." 

"The  gallery  in  there  is  jammed,"  reported 
Williams,  jerking  his  head  toward  the  Alder- 
manic  Chamber.  "I  never  saw  such  a  mob  in 
the  place  before." 

"That's  what  comes  of  all  this  newspaper 
publicity,"  growled  Horrigan.  "If  it  wasn't 
for  the  papers  the  people'd  never  make  any 
trouble  for  us.  But  they  read  the  news  and 
then  they  get  silly  ideas  about  their  'rights,' 
and  a  lot  of  them  come  here  to  see  they  don't 
get  swindled.  Lord!  If  the  papers  would 
only  suspend  publication  for  one  month,  I'd 
guarantee  to  put  the  whole  State  in  my  vest 
pocket.  They're  always  butting  in  to  spoil  the 
organization's  honest  profits.  How  are  the 
crowds  in  the  galleries  behaving?" 

"They're  quiet,"  answered  Williams  uneas 
ily.  "Too  quiet.  That's  what  bothers  me. 


HORRIGAN  "GETTING  NEXT"  TO  MUNICIPAL  AFFAIRS  BY  'PHONE. 

—Page  177. 


The  New  Mayor.  177 

They  seem  to  be  waiting  for  the  Borough  bill 
•  » 

"If  they  raise  any  row,  rush  a  motion 
through  to  clear  the  galleries,"  ordered  Horri- 
gan. 

"Nothing  short  of  the  police  could  clear 
away  that  big  crowd." 

"Then  we'll  have  the  police  in  to  help." 

"But,"  argued  Williams,  "that  would  mean 
a  riot  and  a  lot  of  people  would  get  hurt.  All 
the  newspapers  to-morrow  would— 

"Never  mind  that.  Go  ahead  and  do  as 
you're  told.  At  the  first  sign  of  disapproval 
from  the  galleries  have  the  motion  passed  and 
turn  the  police  loose.  Understand?" 

"All  right,"  acquiesced  Williams  dubiously, 
and  withdrew. 

Wainwright  opened  his  mouth  to  protest, 
but  Horrigan  was  already  busy  at  the  tele 
phone. 

"Hello!"  he  called— "I  want  900  F— 900  F. 
Yes — yes.  Is  that  the  captain?"  he  went  on, 
a  moment  later.  "Then  send  him  to  the  'phone. 
Tell  him  Mr.  Horrigan—  —  Hello,  captain," 
after  another  short  pause.  "Yes,  it's  Horrigan. 
At  City  Hall.  In  the  Aldermanic  Chamber 
there's  a  mob  and  we're  likely  to  need  the  police 
to  quiet  'em.  Yes.  No,  not  'diet'  them,  you 
fool!  'Quiet' them.  Yes.  Send  us  a  squad  at 


178  The  New  Mayor. 

double-quick,  and  let  the  sergeant  report  to 
Williams.  Let  the  boys  bring  their  night 
sticks,  and  tell  'em  they're  to  take  no  back  talk 
and  not  to  be  afraid  to  slug,  if  it  comes  to 
that — and  I  guess  it  will.  Pick  out  the  right 
sort  to  send.  Yes.  Of  course  I'll  back  up 
anything  they  do.  Sure!  Rush  'em.  Good- 
by!" 

"But "  began  Wainwright  as  Horrigan 

hung  up  the  receiver.  The  Boss  cut  him  short : 

"I'll  let  that  gallery  crowd  see  it  ain't  safe  to 
interfere  with  my  work." 

"But,"  protested  Wainwright,  "surely  it  will 
not  be  necessary  to— 

"To  break  heads?  It  probably  will.  Why 
not?" 

"I'd  rather  use  diplomatic  tactics." 

"Diplomacy's  a  game  I  never  took  the 
trouble  to  learn." 

"But  those  people  you're  about  to  antago 
nize  control  votes 

"Yes,  the  people  may  control  the  votes,  but 
we  count  them.  See  the  difference?" 

"But  doesn't  the  law  permit  the  public  to  at 
tend  these  meetings?" 

"Only  so  long  as  they  behave  themselves. 
If  a  few  of  'em  get  clubbed  they  won't  be  so 
ready  next  time  to  butt  in  where  they  aren't 
wanted.  Thev " 


The  New  Mayor.  170 

The  tinkle  of  the  telephone  bell  cut  short  the 
Boss's  public-spirited  remarks.  Horrigan  un- 
slung  the  receiver. 

"Hello!"  he  hailed.  "Who's-  Oh, 

Roberts,  eh?" 

"Is  it  Roberts?"  cried  Gibbs  excitedly. 

"No,"  snarled  Horrigan  in  ponderous  sar 
casm.  "It's  the  Czar  of  Russia  telephoning  to 
borrow  a  nickel.  I  called  him  'Roberts'  just 
to  flatter  him.  Go  on,  Roberts !  What's  that? 
Yes,  this  is  Mr.  Horrigan.  Want  to  see  me, 
do  you?  What  for?  No,  there  isn't,"  he  went 
on  angrily,  after  a  moment's  listening.  "You 
and  I  settled  all  that.  Come  and  do  your  share 

of  the Yes,  I  tell  you  it's  up  to  you  to 

make  good." 

Another  pause,  during  which  Gibbs  and 
Wainwright  glanced  at  each  other  in  suspense. 
Then  the  Boss  continued,  in  a  louder  voice, 
over  the  wire: 

"Well,  come  to  my  room  in  the  City  Hall, 
then,  if  you've  got  to  see  me.  But  there's  no 
need  for  it.  It's  all  settled  and  there's  noth 
ing  more  to  be  said.  I'll  be  here.  Don't  keep 
me  waiting.  I-  What's  that?  No!  I 
won't  come  to  you!  You'll  come  to  me,  and 
you'll  come  on  the  double-quick!  Jump  now! 

If  you  don't No — that's  all.  Hurry 

up!" 


180  The  New  Mayor. 

"Wouldn't  it  be  wiser,"  suggested  Gibbs, 
"to  humor  the  man  by  going  to  him,  as  he  sug 
gests?  Then- 

"No,  it  wouldn't!"  retorted  Horrigan  as  he 
kept  the  telephone.  "If  I'd  gone  on  the  prin 
ciple  of  'humoring'  folks,  I'd  still  be  working 
at  eighteen  per,  selling  ferry  tickets.  Take  my 
tip,  friend:  Never  go  to  a  man.  Make  him 
come  to  you.  That's  business.  And  it  gives 
you  a  90  per  cent,  better  chance  with  him. 
Now  then,"  pulling  a  paper  from  his  pocket, 
"I  told  you  about  the  report  I  had  Morris  & 
Cherrington  dig  out,  showing  up  Bennett's 
old  man.  Here  it  is.  Like  to  look  it  over 
while  we're  waiting?" 

"Little  enough  good  it  seems  to  have  done!" 
returned  Wainwright  as  the  three  heads  bent 
over  the  document.  "He's  still  fighting  us, 
tooth  and  nail." 

"Yes,"  agreed  Horrigan  grimly;  "but  it's 
a  satisfaction  to  know  it  isn't  only  us  he's  fight 
ing.  He's  cutting  his  own  throat,  too." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

LOVE  AND  POLITICS. 

THE  first  committee  room  that  lay  to  the 
right  of  Horrigan's  office  (in  the  same  relation 
to  it  as  the  antechamber  to  the  left)  was  usual 
ly  given  over  to  dry  offical  business,  and  its 
musty  walls  must  almost  have  experienced 
a  distinct  shock  about  this  time  as  Dallas 
Wainwright  entered  from  the  corridor  behind. 
She  was  accompanied  by  Perry  and  by  Phelan, 
who,  passing  through  the  corridor  toward  the 
Aldermanic  Chamber,  had  collided  with  the 
brother  and  sister  at  the  committee-room  door. 

"Here's  a  good  sight  for  sore  eyes,  Miss 
Wainwright,"  the  Alderman  was  saying  with 
his  best  air.  "But  is  it  fair  to  ask  what  brings 
such  a  bunch  of  sunshine  into  an  old  political 
shell  like  this?  I'd  as  soon  think  of  seeing  Hor- 
rigan  at  mass  as  to  find  you  here." 

"I  want  to  attend  the  Aldermen's  meeting," 
exclaimed  Dallas.  "I  have  a  special  reason. 
So  I  made  Perry  bring  me.  But  at  the  door 

181 


182  The  New  Mayor. 

they  told  us  the  gallery  was  so  crowded  that 
we  couldn't— 

"Never  you  mind  the  gallery,  miss,"  inter 
rupted  Phelan.  "It  isn't  meant  for  the  likes 
of  you,  anyway.  You  just  sit  here  a  few  min 
utes  and  I'll  catch  an  attendant  somewhere 
and  make  him  hustle  up  a  couple  of  good 
chairs  for  you  on  the  main  floor,  where  you 
can  pipe  everything  just  like  you  were  in  your 
own  op'ra  box  coppin'  off  a  swad  of  high  C's." 

"Thank  you  so  much,  Alderman,"  replied 
Dallas.  "I  hope  we're  not  putting  you  to  too 
much  trouble?" 

"No  trouble  at  all.  And  even  if  it  was  I'd 
come  a-runnin'  to  meet  it.  I'm  the  original 
trouble-eater.  Besides,  the  best  in  the  house  is 
none  too  good  for  the  lady  who  was  so  int'rest- 
ed  in  my  outings.  So  long!  I'll  be  right 
back." 

"What  a  queer  chap  he  is!"  mused  Perry, 
as  Phelan  hastened  away  on  his  mission.  "If 
I  could  take  a  six-weeks'  course  in  slang  and 
hot  air  from  that  man  I'd  be  able  to  sew  but 
tons  on  the  whole  English  language." 

"I  don't  think  you  need  very  much  tuition," 
observed  Dallas.  "But  it  was  kind  of  Mr. 
Phelan  to  look  after  us.  I  like  him  be— 

"Because  he's  standing  by  Bennett  so  pluck- 
ily  in  this  fight?" 


The  New  Mayor.  183 

"Mr.  Bennett  is  nothing  to  me." 

"No?"  asked  Perry  in  innocent  amaze. 
"Then  I  wasted  a  lot  of  good  cigarette  money 
cabling  to  you  about  his  campaign  when  you 
were  across  the  Big  Wash  last  summer.  For 
a  man  who  was  'nothing'  to  you  you  sure  took 
large  swads  of  intelligent  interest.  Look  here, 
little  girl,"  he  went  on  less  flippantly,  "what's 
the  matter?  Has  anything 

"No!"  she  broke  in  with  a  miserable  effort 
at  courage;  "nothing's  the  matter.  I'm  per 
fectly  happy.  Why  shouldn't  I  be?  An  en 
gaged  girl  is  always— 

"An  engaged  girl!"  he  shouted  in  high  glee. 
"You  don't  mean  to  say  you  and  Alwyn — 

"Of  course  not!  I  am  engaged  to  Mr. 
Gibbs." 

"Good  Lord!"  gasped  the  lad  in  honest  dis 
may.  "If  that's  meant  for  a  joke  it's  the  punk- 
est  ever!  Did ' 

"It  isn't  a  joke,  Perry,  and  it's  very  rude 
of  you  to  talk  so.  I  am  engaged  to  Mr.  Gibbs, 
and- 

"But — how — when  did  the  atrocity  come  ofl£, 
and- 

"I  became  engaged  to  him  the  night  of  the 
Administration  Ball.  I  didn't  want  to  tell  you 
yet,  because  I  knew  vou  don't  like  him.  I'm 
—I'm " 


184  The  New  Mayor. 

"You're  happy?" 

"Certainly  I  am!"  she  retorted  defiantly. 
"So  happy  that  I- 

"That  you  are  having  a  fight  to  keep  from 
crying  this  blessed  minute!"  he  finished.  "Say, 
Dallas,  it  breaks  me  all  up  to  have  you  so  mis 
erable.  I  think  a  whole  lot  of  you.  More'n 
of  any  one  else  but  Cynthia.  And  I  want  to 
help  you  out  of  this  measly  mix-up.  Won't 
you- 

"  There  is  nothing  any  one  can  do,"  she  mur 
mured  sadly.  "I  have  chosen  my  course,  and 
j " 

"Cheese  it!"  whispered  Perry  in  hurried  ad 
monition.  "Here  comes  Bennett,  and  Phelan's 
with  him." 

The  young  Mayor  came  in,  talking  to  the 
Alderman  as  he  came. 

"This  room's  disengaged,"  he  was  saying. 

"I'll  write  it  here  and  give  it  to Oh,  I 

beg  your  pardon,"  he  broke  off,  recognizing 
Dallas  and  Perry.  "I  didn't  know 

"I've  got  two  good  seats  for  you,"  an 
nounced  Phelan.  "Right  where  you  can  see 
and  hear  the  whole  shootin'-match.  An'  I 
guess  before  the  meetin's  over  it's  liable  to  get 
as  int'restin'  as  a  double  Uncle  Tom  show  in  a 
tent.  I'll  show  you  the  way  as  soon  as  you're 


The  New  Mayor.  185 

ready.    There's  no  rush.    Things  ain't  begun 
to  sizzle  up  yet." 

Bennett  had  crossed  to  where  Dallas  stood 
irresolute,  and  under  cover  of  Phelan's  talk 
with  Perry,  said  to  her  with  a  certain  un 
conscious  stiffness: 

"I  fear  I  was  too  taken  aback  by  your  an 
nouncement  the  other  evening  to  remember  to 
congratulate  you.  But  please  believe  me  when 
I  say  I  wish  you  every  happiness  in  the  new 
life  you  have  chosen." 

"Thank  you  very  much,"  faltered  Dallas. 

There  was  an  awkward  pause.  Then  she 
said: 

"You  came  in  here  to  write  something.  I'm 
afraid  we  are  detaining  you.  You  must  be 
busy  with  your  fight  against  the  Borough  bill. 
You  are  quite  determined  to  continue  it  to  the 
end?" 

"To  the  bitter  end!"  he  answered  miserably; 
"even  though  that  end  can  hold  nothing  but 
bitterness  for  me." 

The  set  anguish  in  his  face  moved  Dallas 
more  than  she  dared  confess  even  to  herself. 

"I  am  sorry,"  she  said  softly. 
."It  is  the  course  I  have  chosen,"  he  answered 
with  a  shrug,  "and  if  it  leads  to  eternal  dark 
ness,  instead  of  the  sunlight  I  expected,  I  must 
follow  it  none  the  less," 


186  The  New  Mayor. 

"That  is  sheer  obstinacy,"  she  cried,  battling 
against  her  own  heart's  passionate  plea.  "You 
have  laid  out  a  plan  to  ruin  Mr.  Gibbs,  to  de 
prive  Perry  and  me  of  my  own  fortune,  to  en 
rich  yourself  by  selling  Borough  stock  short 
and  then  vetoing  the  bill  so  that  the  stock 
would  collapse.  You  have  done  all  this — and 
yet  you  talk  of  following  your  abominable 
course  to  the  end!" 

"Dallas,"  he  said  very  quietly,  "you  don't 
understand  and  you  have  refused  to  trust  me 
to  explain.  So  I  can  say  no  more.  But  one 
day  you  may  learn  the  cruel  mistake  you  are 
making." 

"Mistake?" 

"I  don't  mean  that  you  are  mistaken  in 
choosing  Gibbs  instead  of  me,  but  that  you  are 
wrong  in  your  judgment  of  what  I  am  doing. 
I  hope  you  will  understand  some  day.  It  will 
be  too  late  to  change  anything  then,  but  at 
least  I  shall  be  set  right  in  your  eyes.  And 
that  means  more  to  me  than  you  can  ever 
know.  Good -by." 

He  left  the  room  abruptly,  and  Dallas 
stared  after  him,  her  brain  awhirl  with  con 
flicting  thoughts. 

"There's  a  man  in  ten  million,  miss,"  volun 
teered  Phelan.  breaking  in  on  her  reverie;  "and 
from  the  looks  of  that  brand-new  dinky  three-k 


The  New  Mayor.  187 

spark  on  your  finger  I  guess  you're  wise  to 
the  fact." 

"I  am  engaged  to  Mr.  Gibbs,"  replied  Dal 
las  coldly. 

"What  the—  '  gasped  Phelan,  checking 
himself  just  in  time;  "I'm  sure  sorry  for  you, 
miss,"  he  went  on  with  a  sincerity  that  pre 
cluded  any  offense.  "For  friend  Gibbs  is  go 
ing  to  have  something  so  heavy  fall  on  his 
bank-roll  by  the  time  we're  through  with  this 
Borough  bill  that  he'll  be  able  to  use  his  wad 
for  a  book-mark  without  crinklin'  any  of  the 
leaves.  Why,  he'll- 

"Come,  Perry,"  interrupted  Dallas;  "shall 
we  go  to  the  meeting  now?" 

Confused,  she  turned  to  the  door  leading 
into  Horrigan's  room  instead  of  that  opening 
on  the  corridor,  and  found  herself  face  to  face 
with  her  uncle,  the  Boss,  and  Gibbs. 

"I  beg  your  pardon,"  she  began,  surprised. 
"I  didn't  know- 

"Dallas!"  exclaimed  Gibbs  and  Wainwright 
in  the  same  breath.  Horrigan  scowled  at  the 
interruption,  as  all  three  men  rose  to  their 
feet. 

"What  brings  you  to  a  place  like  this?" 
asked  Wainwright  in  displeasure. 

"Perry  and  I,"  indicating  her  brother,  who 


188  The  New  Mayor. 

had  followed  her  into  the  room,  "are  going  to 
attend  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen." 

"But,"  protested  her  uncle  disapprovingly, 
"it  is  hardly  the  sort  of— 

"My  fortune  and  Perry's  and  that  of  the 
man  I  am  to  marry  are  all  bound  up  in  the  Bor 
ough  bill,"  she  answered  fearlessly.  "I  have 
a  right  to  be  present  when  that  bill's  fate  is 
decided." 

"Good  nerve!"  applauded  Horrigan. 
"You're  a  thoroughbred.  If  there  were  more 
women  like  you — 

"Mr.  Horrigan,"  reported  Williams,  hurry 
ing  in  from  an  antechamber,  "the  police  have 
come,  and " 

"All  right,"  answered  the  Boss.  "Give  the 
sergeant  his  orders." 

"I — I  hardly  like  the  responsibility,"  mut 
tered  Williams;  "and " 

"But  you'll  take  it.  I'm  backing  you.  By 
the  way,  get  seats  for  Miss  Wainwright  and 
her  brother.  Get  them  close  to  the  anteroom 
door,  so  if  there's  a  row  she  can  come  back 
here.  If  there  are  no  vacant  seats  there,  clear 
a  couple  of  people  out  and  make  place  for— 

"But  we  have  seats,"  protested  Dallas,  as 
Williams  sped  on  his  errand.  "Alderman 
Phelan- 

" Alderman  Phelan  will  have  trouble  finding 


The  New  Mayor.  189 

a  seat  in  this  city  when  I'm  done  with  him!" 
snarled  Horrigan.  "Better  take  the  seats  I 
offer,  Miss  Wainwright.  They're  safer." 

"But,"  protested  Wainwright,  "if  there's  to 
be  any  danger  she  mustn't  be  there.  I  can't 
have- 

"I  will  be  on  hand  to  help  her,  if  there  is," 
Gibbs  answered  him. 

"H'm!"  grunted  Horrigan  in  somewhat  un 
complimentary  doubt. 

"I  will,  too!"  spoke  up  Perry. 

Horrigan  nodded  approval. 

"You'll  be  all  right,  then,"  said  he;  "and 
now— 

"You  spoke  of  the  police  being  in  the  Alder- 
manic  Chamber,"  said  Dallas.  "What  for?" 

"To  check  any  trouble  the  gallery  may 
make,"  answered  Horrigan.  "This  man  Ben 
nett's  stirred  the  people  up  with  a  lot  of  his 
anarchistic  reform  ideas  till  they're  crazy. 
Some  one's  liable  to  get  a  broken  skull,  and 
then  Bennett  will  have  himself  to  thank.  May 
be  when  the  police  have  hammered  a  little  sense 
into  folks'  heads  with  their  nightsticks  the  vic 
tims  will  begin  to  understand  just  what  sort 
of  a  man  Alwyn  Bennett  is.  Remember,  now, 
Gibbs,  and  you,  too,  young  Wainwright,  if 
there's  any  sign  of  a  row  bring  Miss  Wain 
wright  back  here  at  once." 


190  The  New  Mayor. 

"All  right,"  agreed  Perry,  a  little  rueful  at 
the  prospect  of  missing  a  free  fight.  "Let's 
go  in  there  now.  I've  never  been  to  an  Al 
dermen's  meeting  before ;  but  I  ran  up  against 
a  car  strike  riot  once,  so  I  guess  I'm  on  to  most 
of  the  subtle  rules  of  elegance  that  govern 
such  shows.  Come  on,  people,  if  you're  com- 
ing." 

"Your  niece  is  a  thoroughbred,"  repeated 
Horrigan,  with  rare  approbation,  as  the  ante 
room  door  closed  behind  Dallas  and  her  two 
escorts.  "So  she's  to  marry  Gibbs,  is  she?  I'm 
sorry  for  them  both." 

"Why?"  asked  Wainwright  sharply. 

"Because  it  won't  take  her  a  year  to  find  out 
that  he's  a  yellow  cur.  And  when  she  does 
she'll  either  kick  him  out  or  lead  him  around  on 
a  chain.  Now  the  fellow  a  girl  of  that  sort 
ought  to  have  married  is  Bennett.  He's  an 
obstinate  fool,  but  he's  a  man.  I  thought  you 
said  once  he  was  stuck  on  her." 

"He  was—he  still  is." 

"And  she  took  Gibbs  instead?"  cried  Hor 
rigan,  a  world  of  incredulity  in  his  rough  voice. 
"Women  are  a  queer  lot!  Why'd  she  shake 
Bennett,  if  it  is  a  fair  question?" 

"I  let  her  see  Gibbs  was  a  heroic  martyr," 
said  Wainwright  with  quiet  significance,  "and 
that  Bennett  was " 


The  New  Mayor.  191 

"Oh,  I  see!"  chuckled  Horrigan.  "Still  there 
might  be  something  made  out  of  Bennett's  love 
for  her  even  yet." 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

"I'm  not  quite  sure.  I'll  have  to  think  it 
over." 

"Roberts  has  come!"  exclaimed  Williams, 
entering  from  the  corridor;  "he's  asking  for 
you.  Shall  I  bring  him  in  here?" 

"Yes,"  replied  Horrigan.  "By  the  way," 
he  added  to  Wainwright  as  Williams  depart 
ed,  "I'll  have  to  ask  you  to  clear  out  for  a  few 
minutes.  I've  got  to  see  Roberts  alone.  Now 
for  the  tussle  that'll  decide  the  whole  fight!" 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  WILLS. 

WILLIAMS  entered  with  Roberts  in  tow. 
The  latter  wore  a  haggard,  troubled  look,  and 
his  natural  nervousness  had  visibly  deepened. 
So  much  so  that  he  had  not  even  noted  Phelan's 
appearance  in  the  corridor  as  he  passed  into 
Horrigan's  private  room. 

"Good-evening,  Alderman,"  said  Kerrigan 
civilly. 

"Good-evening,  sir,"  answered  Roberts,  pal 
pably  ill  at  ease. 

"I  understand  there's  a  full  meeting  to-day. 
Even  Ellis  came  back  from  the  South  to  be 
here.  You're  the  only  man  missing." 

"I  couldn't  get  here  sooner.    I— 

"I  see.  That's  all,  Williams.  You  needn't 
wait.  Robei-ts  and  I  want  a  little  talk  before 
he  goes  in.  Now,  then,"  went  on  the  Boss  with 
a  complete  change  of  manner,  as  Williams  left 
the  room,  "what's  the  matter  with  you?" 

"I— I  can't- 

192 


The  New  Mayor.  193 

"Can't  what?  Speak  out,  man!  Don't  stand 
there  and  mumble  at  me!" 

"I  can't  vote  for  the  Borough  Franchisebill." 

"Can't,  hey?"  roared  Horrigan.  "Why; 
not?" 

"Because — because—  '  faltered  Roberts. 
Then,  with  a  rush  of  hysterical  emotion  that 
blotted  out  his  fear,  he  cried: 

"Have  you  heard  what  that  man  Bennett  has 
done?  He  organized  a  voters'  committee  in 
my  ward  and  sent  them  to  ask  me,  at  my  own 
house,  what  I  was  going  to  do  about  that  bill. 
They  had  been  stirred  up  by  Bennett  till  they 
looked  on  me  as  a  crook  and  on  the  bill  as  a 
personal  robbery.  They  told  me  if  I  voted  for 
it  they'd  know  I  was  a  dirty  thief  and  grafter 
and  that  they'd  kick  me  out  of  the  ward." 

"Well,  wrell!"  rumbled  Horrigan  soothing 
ly,  as  though  trying  to  calm  a  fractious  drunk 
ard.  "What  do  you  care?  When  they've  for 
gotten  all  about  the  bill,  you'll  still  have  the 
dough,  won't  you?  Folks  won't  ask  'How'd 
he  get  it?'  All  they'll  care  to  know  is  'Has  he 
got  it?'" 

"That  isn't  all!"  Roberts  blundered  on, 
scarcely  heeding  the  interruption.  "Bennett's 
next  step  was  to  organize  a  committee  of  vot 
ers'  wives,  and  they  came  to  see  my  wife  this 
morning  when  I  was  out  and  told  her  they'd 


194  The  New  Mayor. 

heard  I  was  going  to  sell  myself  and  vote  for 
a  dishonest  bill.  My  wife — my  wife  thinks 
I'm  the  squarest,  noblest  man  on  earth.  Oh, 
you  needn't  sneer!  Her  trust  means  every 
thing  to  me.  She  told  the  women  I  wouldn't 
stoop  to  any  deed  that  wasn't  honest,  and  they 
answered:  'Our  husbands  believe  Mr.  Roberts 
is  a  crook.  If  he  is  really  honest  he'll  vote 
against  that  bill  as  he  did  before.'  Then,  on 
my  way  home  this  noon,  I  met  my  little  boy. 
He  was  crying.  I  asked  him  what  the  matter 
was.  He  said  some  boys  had  told  him  I  was 
a  grafter.  I  tell  you,"  his  voice  rising  almost 
to  a  scream,  "Bennett's  made  my  life  a  hell. 
I'm  no  crook.  I'm  honest,  and— 

"Sure  you're  honest!"  Horrigan  exclaimed, 
as  though  to  a  cross  child.  "Honest  as  the 
day.  That's  why  you're  voting  for  our  bill. 
Because  the  crooked  clauses  have  been  cut  out 
of  it,  and  in  its  present  form  it's  a  benefit  to 
the  city." 

"That  isn't  why  I  promised  to  vote  for  it," 
contradicted  Roberts  with  a  despairing  flash 
of  courage.  "It  was  because  I — because— 

"Never  mind  why,  then;  but  just  go  ahead 
and  do  it." 

"I  won't!    Idarenot- 

" You'll  do  it,  I  say!"  stormed  Horrigan. 
"You  can't  welch  on  me  at  this  stage  of  the 


The  New  Mayor.  195 

game.  Those  Sturtevant  Trust  Company 
notes  of  yours  were  sent  to  you  and " 

"And  I  won't  take  them!"  declared  Roberts, 
slamming  two  slips  of  paper  down  upon  the 
table.  "There!  take  them  back!" 

"What  do  I  want  of  them?"  argued  Horri 
gan  craftily.  "They  belong  to  you." 

"They  don't.    I  won't  keep  them." 

"You'll  have  to.  I  keep  you  to  your  prom 
ise." 

"What  promise?"  asked  a  voice  behind  them. 

Bennett,  hastily  summoned  by  Phelan,  had 
entered  the  room  unobserved  by  either  of  the 
excited  men. 

"What  promise?"  he  asked  again.  "A  prom 
ise  to " 

"What  are  you  doing  here?"  bellowed  Hor- 
rigan  in  fury.  "You  called  me  down  once  for 
coming  into  your  private  office  without  knock 
ing.  What  do  you  mean  by  coming  into 
mine?" 

"Yours?"  queried  Alwyn.  "I  had  an  idea  it 
was  the  city's.  The  time  is  past  when  the  words 
'Horrigan'  and  'city'  meant  the  same  thing. 
Well,  Roberts,  how  are  you  going  to  vote?  I 

want  to  believe  you  honest,  and Why, 

what's  all  this?"  his  eyes  falling  on  the  for 
gotten  notes  on  the  table. 

"Nothing   of   yours!"    shouted   Horrigan, 


196  The  New  Mayor. 

making  a  futile,  furious  grab  for  the  documents 
which  Alwyn  was  picking  up.  "Drop  them! 
Drop  them,  I  say,  or  you'll— 

"Why  should  I?"  asked  Bennett  calmly,  his 
quick  eye  taking  in  the  nature  of  the  slips  of 
paper,  even  as  his  alert  brain  grasped  in  full 
the  meaning  of  the  transaction  in  which  they 
figured.  "Do  they  belong  to  you?" 

"They  don't  belong  to  you,  anyway,"  re 
torted  Horrigan,  "and  if  vou  dare  read 
them- 

"I've  already  read  them.  Roberts,"  he  add 
ed  in  a  kinder  voice,  turning  to  the  shaking 
Alderman,  "these  were  to  have  been  your  bribe, 
weren't  they,  for  voting  for  the  Borough  bill?" 

His  quietly  compelling  tone  and  glance 
forced  from  Roberts  a  frightened  "Yes,"  be 
fore  Horrigan  could  intervene. 

"I  thought  so.  Be  quiet,  Horrigan!"  he 
commanded,  as  the  infuriated  Boss  sought  to 
speak  through  his  choking  wrath.  "This  is 
between  Roberts  and  I.  Now,  then " 

"I  returned  the  notes  to  him!"  pleaded  Rob 
erts  in  panic.  "Honestly,  I  did!  Just  before 
you  came  in.  I  could  have  kept  them,  and  he 
couldn't  have  prevented  me,  even  if  I  voted 
against  the  bill.  But  I'm  square  and— 

"You  are  square!"  affirmed  Bennett,  grip 
ping  the  Alderman's  cold,  moist  hand  in  friend- 


The  New  Mayor.  197 

ly  reassurance.  "I  knew  all  along  you  were 
honest  at  heart.  Horrigan  wanted  to  bribe 
you  and  you  wouldn't  be  bribed.  Now  I  want 
you  to  go  into  the  Council  room  and  vote  as 
your  manhood  tells  you  to." 

Roberts,  comforted,  yet  still  trembling, 
obeyed,  not  venturing  a  second  look  at  Hor 
rigan. 

"Now,  my  friend,"  said  Bennett  pleasantly, 
when  he  and  the  Boss  were  alone  together, 
"what  are  you  going  to  do  about  it?  It  seems 
to  me  your  game  is  up." 

"I  want  those  notes!"  panted  Horrigan, 
finding  coherent  speech  with  an  effort  through 
his  red  mist  of  rage. 

"Why?  They're  not  yours.  They  aren't 
made  over  to  you,  and  there  is  no  cancellation 
stamp  on  them.  They  are  the  property  of  the 
Sturtevant  Trust  Company  and"  I'll  send  them 
back  there  to-morrow — after  I've  had  them 
photographed." 

"You'll  give  them  to  me!"  shouted  Horrigan, 
his  mighty  body  vibrating  with  fury,  "or  you'll 
never  leave  this  room  alive!" 

"You  are  a  fool,  Horrigan!"  remarked  Ben 
nett  with  condescending  calm;  "for  you  oV)n't 
even  know  the  right  man  to  bully." 

He  gazed  unflinchingly  into  the  maddened 
little  eyes  of  the  Boss,  and  so  for  a  moment 


198  The  New  Mayor. 

they  stood — Patrician  and  Proletariat — in  the 
world-old  struggle  of  the  two  for  supremacy. 

Kerrigan's  face  was  scarlet,  distorted,  mur 
derous;  Bennett's  pale,  cold,  deadly  in  its  re 
pose. 

And  then  waged  the  battle  of  wills;  both 
men  standing  motionless,  tense,  vibrant  with 
dynamic  force. 

Slowly,  little  by  little,  Horrigan's  eyes 
dropped.  He  moved  awkwardly  to  one  side 
from  his  position  in  front  of  the  door.  And 
Bennett,  without  so  much  as  a  backward 
look,  passed  out. 

The  Boss,  like  a  man  in  a  daze,  sank  heavily 
into  a  chair  and  gazed  straight  ahead  of  him, 
his  usually  red  face  gray  and  pasty. 

But  he  was  not  to  enjoy  even  the  scant  boon 
of  solitude.  From  the  anteroom  Gibbs  strolled 
in. 

"They're  going  over  some  unimportant  pre 
liminary  business,"  remarked  the  broker,  "so 
I  came  out  for  a  breath  of  fresh  air.  How  are 
things  going?" 

"We're  beat!"  grunted  Horrigan,  not  look 
ing  up. 

"Beat?"  screamed  Gibbs,  ashen  and  inert  at 
the  news.  "You  don't  mean  it!  You  can't 
mean  it!  Great  Heaven!" 


The  New  Mayor.  199 

The  sight  of  the  other's  cowardly  emotion 
seemed  to  rouse  Horrigan  from  his  apathy. 

"If  I  can  stand  it,  you  can!"  he  snarled. 
''You  only  lose  your  percentage  on  the  deal, 
while  I- 

"A  percentage!"  echoed  Gibbs,  too  panic- 
stricken  to  heed  his  own  indiscretion.  "Every 
cent  I  had  in  the  world !  I— 

He  checked  himself  an  instant  too  late. 

"So?"  drawled  Horrigan,  his  keen  little  eyes 
searing  the  other  with  boundless  contempt. 
"So  it  was  you  who  was  secretly  buying  up  the 
stock  and  tailing  in  on  to  our  game,  hey?" 

"I'm  ruined!    Broke!    And- 

"And  you've  got  it  coming  to  you,  you  whin 
ing  traitor!  The  man  who  goes  back  on  his 
partners  deserves  all  the  kicking  he  gets." 

"I — I  didn't  mean  any  harm!"  mumbled  the 
crushed  Gibbs.  "It  couldn't  hurt  you  people 
to  have  me  buy  Borough  stock  for  myself,  and 
I'd  have  cleared  up  a  million  and  more.  Oh, 
don't  glower  like  that,  Horrigan,  but  try  to 
think  out  some  way  of : 

"Of  what,  you  cur?" 

"Isn't  there  any  way,  even  now,  to  make 
Bennett  let  up  on  his  fight?" 

"If  there  was  you  couldn't  be  of  use  to  us. 
So  why  should  I  talk  about  it  to  you?" 


200  The  New  Mayor. 

"But  I'd  do  anything  in  the  world — any 
thing- " 

"You  would?"  cut  in  Horrigan  sharply. 

"Yes !  yes !  Only  give  me  a  chance.  Fd " 

Horrigan  considered;  then  said  reflectively: 

"No  chance  is  too  slight  to  take  at  a  time 
like  this,  and  nobody's  too  rotten  to  be  of  use. 
I've  found  there  are  three  things,  one  of  which 
will  always  buy  any  man :  A  woman,  ambition 
or  cash.  We've  tried  Bennett  on  ambition. 
He  doesn't  need  money.  So  only  the  first  of 
the  three  remains." 

"A  woman?     I  don't  understand." 

"Miss  Wainwright." 

"But- 

"Listen  here:  Bennett's  in  love  with  Wain- 
wright's  niece.  You've  cut  him  out.  Go  and 
tell  him  if  he'll  let  our  bill  alone  you'll  smash 
the  engagement  and  leave  her  free  to  marry 
him.  See?" 

"I  can't!  I — hold  on,  though!  Afterward 
I  could  deny  the  whole  thing,  couldn't  I  ?  It'd 
be  his  word  against  mine,  and  she'd  never  be 
lieve  I  could  do  such  a  thing.  I — I  might  try!" 

"Yes,"  growled  Horrigan,  "you  might.  A 
cur  that's  lost  all  his  nerve  can  try  things  that 
even  an  ordinary  crook  would  balk  at." 

But  Gibbs  did  not  hear.  He  had  returned 
to  the  corridor  in  search  of  Bennett.  The  man 


The  New  Mayor.  201 

scarcely  deserved  the  opprobrium  heaped  on 
him  by  Horrigan.  A  brilliant,  daring  opera 
tor,  he  was,  unknown  to  himself,  a  rank  coward 
at  heart.  For  the  first  time  in  his  life  the  cow 
ardice  had  cropped  out,  and  to  do  Gibbs  jus 
tice,  it  had  driven  him  temporarily  insane.  In 
his  normal  senses  he  would  never  have  stooped 
to  the  plan  he  was  now  so  eager  to  carry  out. 
It  was  a  putrid  bit  of  jetsam  at  which  a  finan 
cially  drowning  man  did  not  scruple  to  clutch. 

Horrigan  followed  him  from  the  room,  his 
own  splendid  nerve  quite  recovered  from  the 
crushing  blow  his  hopes  had  received.  He  had 
staked  heavily  on  the  deal.  Moreover,  its  fail 
ure,  as  he  knew,  meant  the  wreck  of  the  mighty 
political  prestige  he  had  so  long  and  weari 
somely  built  up.  It  might  even,  if  Alwyn  ful 
filled  his  threat  about  the  notes,  lead  to  graver 
personal  consequences.  Yet  the  bulldog  pluck 
that  had  carried  this  man  of  iron  from  the 
gutter  to  the  summit  of  political  power,  did  not 
desert  him ;  nor  did  he  show  the  loss  of  one  iota 
of  his  own  customary  monumental  calm. 

Scarcely  had  Horrigan  quitted  the  room 
when  Perry  and  Dallas  entered  it. 

"You  could  cut  the  atmosphere  in  there  with 
a  cheese  knife,"  Perry  was  saying.  "Wilh'ams 
doesn't  think  the  Borough  bill  will  come  up 
for  half  an  hour  or  so.  We'd  better  spend  the 


202  The  New  Mayor. 

time  till  then  in  here  than  to  stay  there  and 
turn  our  lungs  into  a  microbe  zoo." 

Dallas  did  not  answer.  She  sat  down  by  the 
table  and  rested  her  head  dejectedly  on  one 
little  gloved  hand.  The  sight  of  Bennett — his 
grave,  hopeless  appeal  to  her — the  calm,  utter 
despair  of  his  brave  face — all  these  had  affect 
ed  her  deeply.  Perry  noticed  with  brotherly 
concern  her  look  and  attitude. 

"Feeling  faint?"  he  asked. 

"No;  I'm  all  right,  thanks." 

"You  look  pretty  near  as  blue  as  Alwyn. 
He- 

"Don't  let's  talk  of  him,  please,"  she  begged. 

"Why  not?  He's  the  whitest  chap  this  side 
of  Whiteville." 

"That's  what  I  used  to  think.  But  I  know 
better  now." 

"Then,  miss,"  broke  in  a  voice  from  the  door 
way,  "you're  entitled  to  another  'know.' ' 

Phelan,  who,  passing  down  the  corridor,  had 
heard  her  last  words  as  he  reached  the  threshold, 
turned  into  the  room. 

"Excuse  me  for  buttin'  in  on  a  fam'ly  chat," 
he  remarked,  coming  forward;  "but  I'm  pretty 
well  posted  on  His  Honor's  character,  and 
when  I  hear  any  one  knocking  him,  it's  me  to 
the  bat.  What  have  you  got  against  Mr.  Ben 
nett?  'None  of  your  measly  business.,'  says 


The  New  Mayor.  203 

you.    'Quite  so,'  says  I ;  an',  that  bein'  the  case, 
let's  hear  all  about  it." 

Something  that  underlay  the  seeming  im 
pertinence  of  the  Alderman's  bluff  speech 
touched  Dallas.  On  impulse  she  spoke  : 

"Mr.  Bennett,"  said  she,  "is  opposing  the 
Borough  bill,  knowing  we  shall  be  paupers  if 
he  defeats  it.  He  also  sold  Borough  stock 
short  before  he  announced  his  veto.  What 
can  one  think  of  a  man  who  enriches  himself 
at  the  expense  of  his  friends?" 

"Gee!"  cried  Perry;  "that's  a  terrible  thing! 
Bennett's  the  original  Man  Higher  Up,  I'm 
afraid.  I  wonder  he  isn't  afraid  to  wear  the 
clothes  of  such  a  wicked  geezer  as  himself!" 

"Oh,  Perry!  Don't  joke  about  it,"  begged 
Dallas.  "Can't  you  see  the  serious  side  of 
anything?  We  shall  be  penniless  and  depend 
ent  on " 

"Fear  thou  not,  sister  mine!"  declaimed 
Perry  in  his  best  melodramatic  manner. 
"Paupers,  sayest  thou?  Far  be  it  so!  Little 
Brother  Perry  will  guard  thee  from  the  cold, 
shivery  swats  of  a  wintry  world.  Maybe  we 
can  sell  violets  or  start  a  fight  club  or 

"Don't!"  she  urged,  jarred  by  his  flippancy. 
"You  don't  understand.  I— 

"As  for  that  story  of  His  Honor's  sellin' 
stock  short  and  makin'  a  pile  of  cash  on  his  own 


204  The  New  Mayor. 

veto,"  put  in  Phelan,  genuinely  worried,  "Har- 
rigan's  looked  it  up  and  got  enough  facts  to 
make  him  think  he  can  prove  it.  He's  goin' 
to  make  Williams  tell  the  whole  story  to  the 
Aldermen  to-night.  It's  a  lie,  of  course,  but 
it'll  hurt  His  Honor  a  lot.  And  the  worst  of 
it  is  Bennett  refuses  to  deny  it." 

"He  does,  eh?"  remarked  Perry.  "Then  I'll 
do  some  talking  about  it.  I'll  have  to  fracture 
a  promise  I  made  Alwyn,  but  I  guess  it's 
worth  while." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  queried  Dallas  in 
wonder. 

"I  mean  Bennett  lent  me  the  money  to  sell 
enough  stock  short  to  make  up  for  what  you 
and  I  would  lose  if  the  bill  was  quashed.  And 
he  gave  me  a  letter  to  his  own  broker.  We 
carried  it  through  and  now  you  and  I  stand 
pat  to  win  whichever  way  the  cat  jumps. 
We're  on  velvet,  thanks  to  Alwyn." 

"He  did  this  for  us?"  gasped  Dallas  in 
amaze.  "But  why  didn't  you  tell  me?  Why 
did  you  let  me  misjudge  him?" 

"He  made  me  promise  not  to  let  you  know 
a  thing  about  it.  And— 

"Say,  youngster!"  broke  in  Phelan,  tingling 
with  excitement,  "you  come  chasm'  along  with 
me  into  the  Aldermen's  meetin'.  I'll  have  you 
get  up  there  an'  tell  what  you  know,  It'll 


The  New  Mayor.  205 

knock  that  lie  of  Williams's  and  Horrigan's 
so  high  it'll  forget  to  hit  ground  again.  Come 
on,  son!  There's  sure  liable  to  be  hot  doin's 
in  this  meetin'  in  about  eleven  seconds.  Come 
along!" 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  EAVESDROPPER. 

DALLAS,  left  alone  in  Horrigan's  private 
room,  sat  at  the  big  table,  making  no  effort  to 
follow  her  brother  and  Phelan.  A  messenger, 
searching  for  Horrigan,  bustled  in,  looked  in 
quiringly  at  the  motionless,  white-faced  girl, 
then  passed  on  to  the  committee  room  beyond, 
and  on  again  in  his  search,  until  the  sound  of 
his  footsteps  died.  And  still  Dallas  sat,  inert, 
dumb. 

Little  by  little  she  was  piecing  together  the 
facts  of  the  long,  miserable  complication,  in  the 
light  of  what  Perry  had  just  told  her.  It  was 
absurdly  easy  now  that  she  held  the  key  of 
the  situation.  She  could  understand  every 
thing:  how  Wainwright  had  put  her  fortune 
into  Borough  stock  to  influence  Bennett;  how, 
failing  to  move  the  latter,  he  had  used  Alwyn's 
knowledge  of  the  fact  as  a  weapon  against  the 
young  man;  how  Bennett  had  sought  to  save 
her  fortune  and  why  he  had  forbidden  Perry, 

206 


The  New  Mayor.  207 

to  bias  her  feelings  by  telling  of  the  generous 
act. 

"From  first  to  last,"  she  murmured  in  un 
happy  contrition,  "he  has  acted  honorably  and 
as  he  thought  I  would  have  wanted  him  to,  and 
for  my  happiness.  And  I — like  the  wretched 
little  fool  I  was — couldn't  understand  and  pub 
licly  humiliated  him.  Oh,  if  only  it  wasn't  too 
late  to- 

A  vision  of  Gibbs  flashed  before  her  mind, 
and  she  shuddered,  realizing  all  that  her  rash 
steps  had  entailed. 

"It  is  too  late!"  she  confessed  to  herself, 
fighting  back  the  hot  tears  that  seared  her  eyes. 
"But  at  least  I  can  tell  him  I  know,  and  beg 
his  forgiveness  and  thank  him." 

The  sound  of  voices  in  the  corridor  roused 
her  from  her  bitter  reverie.  She  sprang  up 
hastily,  unwilling  that  any  one  should  see  her 
tear-stained  face.  But  the  speakers,  though 
they  drew  near,  did  not  enter  Horrigan's  of 
fice.  Instead,  they  stepped  into  the  adjoining 
committee  room.  The  messenger  had  left  a j  ar 
the  door  between  the  two  rooms.  Realizing 
this  and  not  wishing  to  be  seen,  Dallas  shrank 
back  toward  the  wall,  fearful  of  detection. 
Then  the  voices  of  one  of  the  speakers  sud 
denly  arrested  her  notice. 

"Well,"  Bennett  was  saying  in  no  especially 


208  The  New  Mayor. 

civil  tones,  "you  said  you  wished  to  speak  to 
me  in  private.  What  have  you  to  say?  Be 
brief,  for  I  am  busy." 

Finding  herself  the  unwilling  witness  to 
what  promised  to  be  a  confidential  talk,  Dal 
las  stole  toward  the  door  leading  to  the  corri 
dor.  But  Horrigan,  as  was  his  custom,  had 
locked  it  on  going  out.  She  dared  not  enter 
alone  the  crowded  anteroom  in  her  present 
state;  so,  hesitatingly,  she  paused,  forced  to 
remain  where  she  wTas.  The  sound  of  another 
voice  chained  her  to  the  spot,  and,  unconscious 
of  eavesdropping,  she  stood  spellbound,  hear 
ing  every  word  distinctly  through  the  half- 
open  doorway. 

"I — I  hardly  know  how  to  begin,"  Gibbs 
was  replying  to  Bennett's  curt  demand.  "It  is 
a  delicate  subject,  and— 

"Then  the  sooner  it  is  treated  to  open  air  the 
better.  Is- 

"You've  won  the  Borough  bill  fight,"  began 
Gibbs. 

"Is  that  all  you  have  to  say  to  me?" 

"No.  You've  won.  But  you've  lost  far 
more.  You've  lost  Dallas  Wainwright." 

"I  hardly  need  to  be  reminded  of  that,"  re 
torted  Bennett;  "and  it  is  a  subject  I  don't 
care  to  discuss." 

"But,  listen!"  pleaded  Gibbs,  as  the  Mayor 


BENNETT  REFUSES    GIBBS5   OFFER. — Page  210. 


The  New  Mayor. 

made  a  move  as  though  to  leave  the  room. 
"One  minute!  I  say  you've  won  the  Borough 
fight.  I've  won  Dallas.  Can't  we— 

"Well,  what?"  asked  Bennett,  with  ominous 
quiet,  as  he  paused  in  his  departure. 

"Can't  we — strike  some  sort  of  bargain?" 
said  Gibbs  tentatively. 

"Explain,  please,"  ordered  Bennett,  with 
that  same  deceptive  calm. 

"Why,"  went  on  Gibbs,  emboldened  at  the 
other's  seeming  complacence,  "suppose  you 
give  up  this  Borough  fight  and  I  give  up  Dal 
las  ?  I  won  her  by  a  trick.  She  doesn't  really 
love  me.  It  is  her  pride,  not  her  heart,  that 
made  her  throw  you  over  and  accept  me.  It 
is  you  she  loves,  and  I've  known  it  all  along. 
And  you  are  in  love  with  her." 

"What  then?" 

"Just  this,"  returned  Gibbs,  wondering  at 
Bennett's  quiet  reception  of  the  strange  offer: 
"She  will  marry  me  because  she  isn't  the  sort 
of  girl  to  go  back  on  a  promise,  especially  since 
she  looks  on  me  as  a  sort  of  high-minded  mar 
tyr  to  your  oppression.  So  if  I  hold  her  to  her 
word  she  will  not  back  down.  Now,  if  you, 
even  now,  withdraw  your  opposition,  the  Bor 
ough  bill  will  go  through.  Let  it  go  through 
and  I  will  break  my  engagement  to  Dallas 
Wainwright  and  leave  her  free  to  marry  you." 


210  The  New  Mayor. 

"You  promise  that?" 

"Yes,"  cried  Gibbs  elated.  "I  promise  on 
my  word  of  honor.  Is  it  a  bargain?" 

"Gibbs,"  replied  Alwyn  slowly,  "I  didn't 
think  there  was  so  foul  a  cur  as  you  in  all  the 
world!  I  thought  I  understood  how  utterly 
rotten  you  were,  but  I  didn't  believe  there  was 
a  man  living  who  could  debase  himself  as 
you've  just  done." 

"But "  began  Gibbs  in  bewilderment. 

"Now,  you'll  listen  to  me  for  a  moment,"  cut 
in  Bennett,  silencing  the  interruption.  "You 
say  I'm  in  love  with  Miss  Wainwright.  It  is 
true.  I  love  her  in  a  way  a  dog  like  you  could 
never  understand  if  he  tried  for  a  lifetime.  I'd 
give  my  life  for  one  word  of  love  from  her. 
But  I'd  sooner  go  forever  without  that  word 
than  to  win  it  by  a  dishonest  deed  that  would 
prove  me  unworthy  of  her.  I  asked  her  love 
as  a  free  gift,  and  tried  to  deserve  it.  She  re 
fused.  And  I  won't  try  to  buy  what  she  won't 
give  me.  Especially  since  the  price  would 
make  me  as  unworthy  of  her  as  you  yourself 
are." 

"But  you  take  the  wrong  view  of  it.  You 
see,  if— 

"I  see  this  much:  I'll  have  to  speak  plainer 
to  get  my  view  of  the  case  into  your  vile  mind. 
If  ever  again  you  meet  me,  stand  out  of  my 


The  New  Mayor.  211 

way.  Don't  speak  to  me  or  come  where  I  am ; 
for  if  you  ever  cross  my  path  again  I'll  treat 
you  ten  thousand  times  worse  than  when  I 
thrashed  you  in  that  football  game.  That's 
all." 

Bennett,  restraining  his  wrath  with  a  mighty 
effort,  turned  on  his  heel  and  strode  off  into 
the  corridor,  leaving  Gibbs  staring  after  him 
in  dumb,  impotent  despair. 

When  the  broker  had  recovered  himself  suf 
ficiently  to  start  from  the  room,  Dallas  Wain- 
wright  stood  before  him,  barring  his  exit.  Her 
face  was  dead-white;  her  big  dark  eyes  ablaze. 

"Wait!"  she  commanded.  "I  must  speak  to 
you — for  the  last  time!" 

"Dallas!"  gasped  the  desperate  man,  his 
drawn  face  turning  positively  yellow.  "You 
were — you — you  heard?" 

"Mr.  Bennett  just  now  called  you  'the  foul 
est  cur  in  all  the  world/  "  said  Dallas,  her  voice 
scarcely  louder  than  a  whisper,  yet  every  syl 
lable  stinging  as  a  whip-lash.  "He  put  it  top 
mildly." 

"But,  sweetheart 

'  'Miss  Wainwright,'  please!  I  heard  you 
offer  to  sell  me  to  him  in  exchange  for  his  con 
science.  If  my  own  brother  had  told  me  such 
a  thing  I  would  not  have  believed  him.  But 


212  The  New  Mayor. 

I,  myself,  heard  it.  And  I  heard  his  splendid 
answer." 

"But  you  know  I  was  joking!  That  it  was 
just  a  trick  to 

"Just  such  a  trick  that  made  me  promise  to 
be  your  wife?  Yes.  But  this  time  you  had  to 
do  with  a  man — a  man  in  a  million.  Not  with 
a  poor  credulous  little  idiot  like  me.  And  he 
answered  you  as  I  should  have  answered  you 
had  my  eyes  been  opened  in  time.  I— 

"Dallas!"  groaned  Gibbs,  "for  Heaven's  sake 
don't  look  at  me  like  that.  I  can't  bear  it.  I 
love  you!  And  I— 

"And  I,  in  my  criminal  folly,  promised  to 
marry  you!"  she  stormed.  "I  let  you  kiss  me! 
My  lips  are  degraded  forever  by  that  touch  of 
yours.  I  let  you  speak  words  of  love  to  me. 
I  broke  a  brave  man's  heart  for  your  worthless 
sake.  Oh,  the  shame — the  horrible  shame  of 
it  all!  But  I  shall  thank  God  on  my  bended 
knees  that  I  have  found  out  the  truth  before  it 
was  too  late!" 

"Too  late?"  he  echoed  in  horror,  his  voice 
rising  almost  to  a  scream.  "Dallas!  You're 
not  going  to  throw  me  over?  You  aren't 

"Scott  Gibbs,"  she  answered  quietly,  a  world 
of  wondering  scorn  in  her  level  tones,  "you 
do  not  even  know  how  vile  a  thing  you  are! 


The  New  Mayor.  213 

Now  leave  me,  please.  Your  presence  sickens 
me!" 

He  tried  to  speak,  but  something  of  the  in 
effable  contempt  in  her  steady  eyes  silenced 
him.  Without  a  word  he  slunk  out  of  the  room 
and  out  of  her  life. 

Phelan,  agog  with  eagerness  for  the  coming 
struggle  in  the  Aldermanic  Chamber,  bustled 
past  through  the  corridor.  The  Alderman  had 
many  duties  to-day ;  and  as  the  performance  of 
each  brought  him  nearer  to  his  longed-for  re 
venge  on  Horrigan,  he  was  positively  beaming 
with  righteous  bliss.  Dallas  caught  sight  of 
him. 

"Alderman!"  she  called  faintly. 

Phelan  halted,  still  in  haste  to  fulfil  his  mis 
sion. 

"Could— could  I  see  Mr.  Bennett?"  she 
asked,  a  new  timidity  transforming  her  rich 
voice.  "Do  you  know  where  I  can  find  him?" 

"Is  it  important?    He's  pretty  busy." 

"Very  important!"  she  pleaded.  "I  must 
see  him  at  once." 

"I'll  look  him  up,"  agreed  Phelan;  "but  I 
warn  you  he's  too  busy  to  see  you  just  yet. 
S'pose  you  let  me  take  you  back  to  the  meetin'  ? 
Our  bill's  comin'  up  in  a  few  minutes  now,  an' 
you  don't  want  to  miss  it.  Then  I'll  scare  up 
His  Honor  for  you  as  soon  as  he's  got  a  spare 


214  The  New  Mayor. 

minute  and  bring  you  back  here  to  him.  Sorry 
to  keep  you  waitin',"  he  went  on,  as  they  start 
ed  toward  the  Council  chamber;  "but  before 
this  session's  over,  all  sorts  of  things  is  due  to 
explode — an*  we  ain't  hardly  at  the  beginnin' 
of  the  excitement  yet.  We're  goin'  to  make  a 
Fourth  of  July  celebration  in  a  giant  powder 
fact'ry  look  like  a  deaf-mute  fun'ral  by  the 
time  we're  done !" 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

.VENGEANCE! 

"For  Time  at  last  makes  all  things  even; 
And  if  we  do  but  wait  the  hour 
There  never  yet  was  human  power 
That  could  evade,  if  unforgiven, 
The  patient  search  and  vigil  long 
Of  him  who  treasures  up  a  wrong." 

"HE'S  in  there!"  observed  Phelan  in  high 
excitement,  jerking  his  thumb  toward  a  door 
leading  off  the  committee  room;  "an'  I've  sent 
for  Wainwright  an'  Horrigan  to  meet  Your 
Honor  here.  An'  I've  fixed  it  so  the  Borough 
bill  won't  come  up  for  ten  minutes.  Now,  all 
that's  left  is  to  touch  the  punk  to  the  fuse  an' 
set  off  the  whole  giddy  bunch  of  fireworks  un 
der  'em.  Gee!  but  it's  good  to  'a'  stuck  to  this 
old  world  just  for  the  sake  of  bein'  here  to 
day  an'  seein'  what  I'm  due  to  see!" 

The  Alderman  chuckled,  but  his  joyous  an 
ticipation  found  no  reflection  in  Bennett's 
white,  set  face.  The  two  were  in  the  committee 

315 


216  The  New  Mayor. 

room,  whither  Phelan  had  repaired  after  de 
positing  Dallas  in  a  chair  beside  her  brother 
at  the  meeting,  and  attending  to  one  or  two  de 
tails  of  greater  import. 

"Yes,"  went  on  Phelan,  again  nodding  mys- 
teriousty  toward  the  further  door.  "He's  in 
there,  trained  to  the  minute  for  the  blow-out. 
There's  some  one  else  wants  to  see  you,  too. 
Some  one  who'll  make  more  of  a  hit  with  you, 
if  I'm  not  overplayin'  my  hand.  But  good 
news  can  wait.  There's  so  little  of  it  in  this 
measly  life  that  it  gen'rally  has  to.  I " 

From  the  corridor  Horrigan  stamped  into 
the  committee  room,  Wainwright  at  his  heels. 

"Well?"  cried  the  Boss  defiantly,  glaring  at 
Bennett  and  ignoring  Phelan.  "You  sent  for 
us.  What  do  you  want?" 

"One  moment!"  intervened  Wainwright. 
"We  are  beaten.  We  admit  that  without  argu 
ment.  So  we  need  waste  no  time  going  over 
details." 

"Have  you  sent  for  us  to  say  what  you'll  sell 
out  for?"  queried  Horrigan  coarsely.  "Be 
cause,  if  you  have,  you've  only  to  name  your 
price.  You've  got  us  where  you  want  us. 
We've  got  to  pay." 

"I  should  have  thought,"  replied  Bennett, 
with  no  shade  of  offense,  "you  would  know  by 
this  time  that  I  have  no  price," 


93 

I 
P-l 


The  New  Mayor.  217 

"Then  what  do  you  want?" 

"Nothing — from  you." 

"Why  did  you  send  word  you  wanted  to 
see  us?"  growled  Horrigan  impatiently,  as  he 
and  Wainwright,  uninvited,  seated  themselves 
at  the  table. 

"To  tell  you,"  answered  Alwyn,  glancing 
from  one  to  the  other,  "that  every  step  you  two 
have  taken  in  this  whole  infamous  transaction, 
from  the  very  first,  has  been  carefully  followed, 
and,  to  use  your  own  phrase,  we've  got  you 
with  the  goods!" 

"Same  old  bluff!"  commented  Horrigan  con 
temptuously,  with  a  reassuring  wink  at  the 
somewhat  less  confident  Wainwright. 

"By  to-morrow  noon,"  resumed  Bennett, 
"you  will  both  be  indicted  on  a  charge  of  brib 
ery.  Even  now  there  are  detectives  on  the 
watch  for  you.  Escape  is  impossible." 

"Rot!"  sneered  Horrigan.  "You've  no  evi 
dence  that  will  indict,  and  you  know  it.  Even 
if  you  had,  don't  I  control  most  of  the  Judges 
and  the  District- Attorney's  office  besides? 
Swell  chance  you'll  have  of  getting  a  convic 
tion  past  that  bunch!  Bah!  You  talk  like  a 
man  made  of  mud.  I  s'pose  it's  the  affair  of 
those  Roberts  notes  you're  counting  on.  That 
don't  f eaze  me  any.  My  lawyer  can  twist  that 
around  so  it'll  look  like  a  charity  gift.  No,  no. 


218  The  New  Mayor. 

youngster !  You'll  have  to  think  of  something 
better  if— 

"And,  anyhow,"  put  in  Wainwright  nerv 
ously,  "you  can't  prove  any  connection  on  my 
part.  There's  nothing  against  me  or " 

"I  think  there  is!"  retorted  Bennett,  wheel 
ing  about  on  the  financier.  "And  even  if  I 
can't  nail  the  Roberts  bribery  to  you  I've  plen 
ty  more  counts  to  hold  you  on." 

"All  these  generalities  and  vague  accusa 
tions  prove  nothing,  Bennett,"  answered 
Wainwright,  drawing  courage  from  Horri- 
gan's  colossal  calm,  and  speaking  with  more 
assurance.  "Mr.  Horrigan  and  I  are  not 
schoolboys  to  be  scared  by  baseless  threats. 
This  is  all  guesswork  on  your  part.  Come, 
now!  Name  one  specific  charge  you  can 
prove!" 

"One  will  be  enough  to  convince  you?"  asked 
Alwyn.  "Well,  then,  how  about  this  as  a  first 
guess?  Mr.  Horrigan's  bribe  of  $2,000,000 
in  money  and  25,000  shares  of  Borough  stock, 
for  agreeing  to  put  through  the  Borough  fran 
chise?  For  'guesswork/  that  doesn't  seem  to 
me  very  bad." 

Wainwright's  hard  mask  of  a  face  twitched 
convulsively,  but  the  steady  brain  that  had  car 
ried  him  unshaken  through  a  thousand  risky 
financial  deals  came  at  once  to  his  rescue. 


The  New  Mayor.  219 

"An  excellent  guess!"  he  agreed  in  splen 
didly  feigned  amusement.  "But  unfortunate 
ly  the  courts  demand  proof  before  convicting 
a  man.  And  there  is  no  proof  whatever 
of-  -" 

"Are  you  sure?"  queried  Bennett.  Turning 
to  Phelan  he  added : 

"Please  ask  Mr.  Thompson  to  come  in." 

The  Alderman,  with  an  expansive  grin, 
flung  open  the  door  of  the  further  room. 

At  sound  of  his  secretary's  name,  Wain- 
wright  had  sprung  to  his  feet,  and,  dum- 
f  ounded,  was  leaning  heavily  on  the  table,  star 
ing  across  the  threshold  of  the  suddenly  opened 
door. 

There,  framed  in  the  dark  doorway,  his  face 
deathly  pale,  his  eyes  glowing  with  a  strange 
light  as  of  murder,  stood  Cynthia's  brother. 

His  presence  in  the  City  Hall  was  no  mere 
chance,  but  the  climax  of  a  series  of  conferences 
between  Bennett,  Phelan  and  himself,  dating 
from  the  night  of  the  Administration  Ball, 
when,  despite  his  own  resolve,  the  secretaiy's 
hand  has  been  forced  by  the  inquisitive  Alder 
man  and  his  identity  revealed. 

Bennett  had  been  let  into  the  secret  next 
day,  and  the  trio  had  had  a  three-hour  talk  from 
which  Phelan  had  emerged  with  the  gleeful 
air  of  one  who  has  unexpectedly  found  a  thou- 


220  The  New  Mayor. 

sand  dollar  bill.  Thompson,  too,  had  left  that 
conference  with  a  look  of  calm,  intense  satis 
faction  that  transfigured  him. 

Other  conversations  had  followed;  one  of 
them  in  the  presence  of  notary,  stenographer 
and  lawyers.  The  trap  at  last  was  ready  to  be 
sprung. 

The  financier,  for  the  first  time  in  his  nine- 
year  close  association  with  the  secretary,  met 
the  younger  man's  gaze  without  seeing  the 
latter  droop  in  deferential  submission.  Now 
he  received  back  look  for  look  from  his  former 
abject  slave;  and  it  was  his  own  glance  that 
wavered  before  that  concentrated  glare  of  hate. 

"Thompson!"  he  cried;  and  his  voice  bore 
a  world  of  incredulous  reproach. 

Before  him  stood  the  one  man  on  earth  in 
whom  Wainwright  had  ever  placed  implicit 
trust ;  to  whom  he  had  confided  his  gravest  busi 
ness  secrets ;  the  man  whom  he  had  so  shrewd 
ly  tested  in  countless  ways  and  who  had  proven 
stanchly  incorruptible  and  loyal.  And  now, 
Thompson  apparently  confronted  him  in  the 
role  of  traitor — of  exultant  spy. 

"Thompson!"  he  exclaimed  once  more,  al 
most  with  a  groan,  as  the  secretary  advanced 
into  the  room  until  only  the  width  of  the  table 
separated  employer  and  employee. 

Then  the  newcomer  spoke  for  the  first  time 


The  New  Mayor.  221 

in  an  oddly  muffled  voice,  as  though  fighting 
desperately  for  self-restraint. 

"No!"  he  contradicted.  "'Thompson'  no 
longer.  Henceforth  I  am  Garrison!" 

Wainwright's  face  grew  gray.  Breathless, 
unbelieving,  he  peered  across  at  the  pallid  fea 
tures  of  his  new  foe,  tracing  in  them  the  like 
ness  to  the  old  friend  whose  ruin  and  death  he 
had  caused.  The  haunting  resemblance  that 
had  often  vaguely  occurred  to  him  when  watch 
ing  Thompson  at  work  now  returned  in  double 
force.  But  now,  as  in  a  flash,  it  was  explained, 
and  he  knew  that  his  secretary  spoke  the  truth. 

"Yes,"  went  on  Thompson  in  that  same 
choked,  struggling  intonation,  "I  am  Harry 
Garrison.  You  wrecked  my  father's  life.  You 
drove  him  to  suicide.  You  blasted  his  memory. 
You  beggared  his  children.  I  am  his  son — 
Harry  Garrison.  Now  do  you  begin  to  un 
derstand?" 

"You  see,  Mr.  Wainwright,"  intervened 
Bennett,  as  the  secretary's  pent-up  rage  stran 
gled  the  words  in  his  throat,  "my  guesswork 
has  a  fairly  reliable  backing." 

But  Wainwright  did  not  hear.  He  still 
stared,  as  one  hypnotized,  into  the  blazing  eyes 
of  the  man  he  had  trusted. 

"You've — you've  played  me  false!"  he  man 
aged  to  gasp  at  length.  "You  have " 


222  The  New  Mayor. 

"Sure  he  has!"  cut  in  Horrigan.  "What'd 
I  tell  you  last  summer,  Wainwright?  I  said 
then  you  were  foolish  to  trust  him  so.  I  said 
he'd  stand  watching.  The  minute  I  set  eyes 
on  that  lantern- j  awed,  glum  face  of  his " 

"Played  me  false!"  muttered  Wainwright 
again,  dazed  and  doubting  the  evidence  of  his 
own  senses. 

"Played  you  false?"  jeered  Thompson. 
"Played  you  false?  Why  else  did  I  become 
your  servant?  What  else  have  I  been  waiting 
all  these  horrible  years  for?  I've  sat  at  your 
desk  and  listened  to  your  orders,  never  ventur 
ing  to  say  my  soul  was  my  own.  Now  you'll 
listen  to  me !" 

"Why  do  you  bother  with  the  little  traitor, 
Wainwright?"  scoffed  Horrigan. 

But  the  financier  was  standing  motionless, 
leaning  on  the  table,  his  fingers  spasmodically 
gripping  its  edge  till  the  knuckles  grew  white. 
Ridiculously  like  a  cowed  prisoner  before  the 
bar  of  justice,  he  faced  his  fiery-eyed  young 
judge. 

"They  sent  for  me,"  went  on  Thompson, 
brokenly,  jerkily,  scarce  intelligible  as  the  sup 
pressed  hatred  of  a  decade  battled  for  expres 
sion.  "They  sent  for  me.  My  father  had 
killed  himself.  My  mother  lay  dead— struck 
down  by  grief.  Our  honored  old  name  was 


The  New  Mayor.  223 

defiled.  My  sister  was  a  pauper.  Who  had 
done  all  this?  You!  Oh,  they  hushed  it  up; 
but  I  found  out!  I  found  out!  And  by  my 
murdered  father's  body  I  knelt  and  swore  I'd 
pay  you  for  it.  I'd  pay  you  if  it  cost 
me  my  life.  I  would  ruin  you  in  name  and  for 
tune,  as  you  ruined  my  father.  And  then  I'd 
kill  you,  as  you  killed  him.  I'd 

With  an  effort  that  left  him  haggard  and 
trembling,  Thompson  forced  himself  to  calmer 
speech  and  continued: 

"I  answered  your  advertisement  for  a  secre 
tary.  I  had  no  experience.  Yet  out  of  ninety 
applicants  you  chose  me.  That  was  fate.  I 
knew  then  that  one  day  I  should  have  you  at 
my  feet,  as  now  I  have.  Fate  fought  for  me. 
I  made  myself  necessary  for  you.  I  obeyed 
your  hardest  orders.  I  found  out  ways  to 
please  you.  I  fetched  and  carried  for  you.  I 
ran  to  anticipate  your  slightest  wish  as  though 
I  was  your  adoring  son.  It  was  'I  hope  you're 
satisfied,  sir,'  and  'Let  me  do  that  for  you,  sir/ 
and  'I  am  glad  to  work  over-time  for  you,  sir, 
any  time  you  wish,'  while  every  minute  I  had 
to  fight  hard  to  keep  from  striking  you  dead!" 

"I  must  go!"  groaned  Wainwright,  shud- 
deringly.  "I  can't  stand  this.  I " 

"Oh,  T  made  you  think  me  a  paragon!"  re 
sumed  the  youth.  "You  took  to  testing  my 


224  The  New  Mayor. 

honesty  and  loyalty  in  clever  ways  that  you 
thought  I'd  never  discover.  I  stood  the  tests. 
Then  you  trusted  me.  You  fool!  As  if  the 
fact  that  I  wasn't  a  crook  proved  I  wasn't  your 
enemy !  You  could  see  no  further  than  dollars 
and  cents!  When  I  didn't  steal  those  or  sell 
the  market  tips  you  gave  me  you  thought  I 
was  incorruptible  and  devoted  to  your  inter 
ests.  And  all  the  time  I : 

"You  were  listening  at  the  keyhole  that  day 
last  summer?"  broke  in  Horrigan.  "The  time 
I  pulled  the  office  door  open,  and " 

"Then  and  always,"  answered  Thompson; 
"and,"  he  added,  his  eyes  returning  to  Wain- 
wright's,  "I  copied  every  confidential  telegram 
or  letter  you  sent.  I  took  down  in  shorthand 
every  private  interview  of  yours.  I  tracked 
the  checks  that  completed  your  deals,  and  when 
they  came  back  from  the  vaults  as  vouchers  I 
stole  them.  I've  got  proofs,  I  tell  you — proofs 
— of  every  crooked  transaction  you  have  dab 
bled  in  for  nine  years.  I've  secured  proofs  of 
every  step  in  this  Borough  franchise  bribery, 
and  I've  turned  them  all  over  to  the  Mayor 
here.  That  evidence  will  send  you  to  State's 
prison!  To  State's  prison,  I  tell  you.  To  a 
cell,  with  cropped  hair  and  striped  suit.  I'll 
send  you  to  prison,  where  you'll  break  your 
heart  and  be  branded  forever  as  a  convict.  And 


\  The  New  Mayor.  9  225 

when  your  term  is  up  I'll  be  waiting  for  you, 
and  I'll  kill  you!  Do  you  hear  me,  you  foul 
criminal!"  he  shouted,  screaming  hysterically 
and  foaming  at  the  mouth  in  his  abandonment 
of  insane  fury.  "I'm  going  to  kill  youl  To 
kill  you  I" 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  REWARD. 

UNDER  the  maniac  fury  that  blazed  from 
Thompson's  eyes,  Wainwright  shrank  back  in 
panic  dread. 

"He's — he's  mad!"  cried  the  financier. 
"Don't  let  him  at  me!" 

For  Thompson  seemed  about  to  hurl  himself 
at  his  foe. 

"Go  easy,  son!"  adjured  Phelan,  laying  a 
restraining  hand  on  the  secretary's  shoulder. 

The  latter,  recalled  to  himself  by  the  pres 
sure,  relaxed  his  tense,  menacing  attitude  and, 
with  hysterical  revulsion  of  feeling,  sank  into 
a  chair,  burying  his  face  in  his  arms  on  the  table 
before  him. 

"Nine  horrible  years!"  he  sobbed  brokenly; 
"nine  awful  years  of  slavery,  of  debasement! 
Watching — hating — longing — to  crush  him ; 
and,  oh,  the  time  has  come,  thank  God !  Thank 
God!" 

"You're  all  in,  lad!"  muttered  Phelan,  pass- 

226 


TJie  New  Mayor.  227 

ing  an  arm  about  the  shaking  youth  and  lift 
ing  him  to  his  feet.  "Come  with  me.  I'll  send 
out  and  get  you  a  bracer." 

Thompson,  exhausted  by  his  emotions, 
obeyed  mechanically;  but  at  the  further  door 
paused  for  a  moment  and  again  fixed  his 
wild,  bloodshot  eyes  on  Wainwright's  haggard 
face. 

"Remember!"  he  threatened,  his  voice  dead 
and  expressionless.  "When  you  get  out  of  jail 
I'll  be  waiting  for  you!  And  as  sure  as  God's 
justice  lives  I'll  kill  you  as  I'd  kill  a  dog!  Nine 
years'  waiting  and — I'll  murder  you  as  you 
murdered  my " 

Phelan  had  forced  him  over  the  threshold, 
and  the  slamming  of  the  door  behind  the  two 
seemed  to  break  the  strange  spell  that  had 
fallen  on  all. 

Wainwright  straightened  himself,  glancing 
fearfully  about,  tried  to  regain  his  shaken  com 
posure  and  opened  his  mouth  to  speak.  But 
the  hurried  entrance  of  Williams  prevented 
him. 

"Mr.  Horrigan!"  gasped  the  excited  new 
comer,  "I've  been  looking  everywhere  for  you." 

"What's  wrong  now?"  snapped  the  Boss. 
"Has- 

"The  Borough  bill's  come  up  at  last, 
and " 


228  The  New  Mayor. 

"The  gallery  crowd's  rough-housing  the 
place?  Then- 

"No;  they're  as  quiet  as  death.  Too  quiet. 
And  they  have  long  ropes,  and  they're  string 
ing  them  over  the 

"Call  in  the  police,  then!"  ordered  Horrigan. 
"Now's  the  time  for  them." 

"I  don't  dare,"  protested  Williams.  "Those 
men  in  the  gallery  are  desperate.  They're  dan 
gerous.  If— 

"The  police?"  interrupted  Bennett  sharp 
ly.  "What  are  you  talking  about?" 

"My  orders!"  returned  Horrigan.  "I  sent 
for  them.  Tell  them  to— 

"Don't  do  it!"  commanded  Bennett  in  anger. 

"Do  as  I  say,  Williams!"  countermanded 
Horrigan.  "Have  them  in  and— 

"Phelan,"  interposed  Bennett,  as  the  Alder 
man,  having  left  Thompson  in  other  hands, 
came  into  the  room,  "go  to  the  sergeant  in 
charge  of  the  police  Mr.  Horrigan  sent  for. 
Tell  him  I  say  he  must  keep  his  men  where 
they  are  and  take  no  orders  except  from  me. 
Understand?" 

"I  sure  do!"  grinned  Phelan,  with  a  delight 
ed  grin  at  the  wrathful  Horrigan;  "and  I'll 
see  they- 

"You  need  not   trouble,"   croaked   Wain- 


The  New  Mayor.  229 

wright,  his  throat  dry  and  constricted  with 
fear.  "The  bill  is  withdrawn!" 

"That  goes!"  corroborated  Horrigan.  "Do 
you  hear  that,  Williams?  Mr.  Wain  wright 
withdraws  the  Borough  bill.  Attend  to  it  in  a 
rush,  man.  Never  mind  about  the  police." 

"Well,  friend  Horrigan,"  blandly  observed 
Phelan,  as  Williams  hastened  out,  "I  told  you 
I'd  cross  two  sticks  of  dynamite  under  you 
some  day.  Likewise  I  done  it." 

"What  had  you  to— 

"To  do  with  smashin'  you?  Only  that  I  put 
His  Honor  on  to  the  bill  in  the  first  place  an' 
then  sicked  him  on  to  Roberts,  an'  discovered 
Thompson  an'  turned  him  over  to  Mr.  Bennett! 
That's  about  all.  But  I  guess  it's  enough  to 
make  your  p'litical  career  feel  like  it  had  a  long 
line  of  carriages  drivin'  slow  behind  it,  Chesty 
Dick,  my  old  chum!" 

Horrigan  had  turned  his  back  on  his  victor 
ious  tormentor  and  was  facing  the  Mayor. 

"Bennett,"  said  he,  "you  forget  I've  still  got 
that  report  about  your  father  and 

"To-morrow's  papers  will  publish  it,"  sup 
plemented  Alwyn. 

"No,  they  won't!"  contradicted  Horrigan. 
"That  would  be  bad  politics.  The  report  will 
hold  over  till- 

"You're    mistaken!"    interrupted    Bennett 


230  The  New  Mayor. 

calmly.  "I've  sent  a  copy  of  that  report  to 
every  paper  in  the  city  and  have  accompanied 
it  with  a  statement  that  I  shall  make  good  to 
the  city  treasury  every  penny  overcharged  in 
the  library  and  aqueduct  contracts.  So— 

Horrigan  was  staring  at  him  open-mouthed. 

"Bennett,"  he  muttered  in  genuine  wonder 
ment,  "I  don't  know  whether  you're  the  craziest 
fool  or  the  cleverest  politician  in  the  State!" 

"Your  Honor,"  humbly  pleaded  Wairi- 
wright,  who  for  several  minutes  had  been  try 
ing  in  vain  to  draw  Bennett  aside  for  a  private 
word,  "I  am  an  old  man.  Is  there  no  way  of 
— of  showing  me  mercy  in  my— 

"Yes!"  retorted  Alwyn.  "You  shall  receive 
exactly  the  same  mercy  you  have  always  shown 
to  vour  own  financial  enemies.  No  more,  no 
less> 

"Oh,  cut  out  the  whine,  Wainwright!" 
sneered  Horrigan  in  high  contempt,  as  he 
linked  his  arm  in  the  broken  financier's  and 
hauled  him  roughly  from  the  room.  "What's 
happened  to  your  nerve?  You're  almost  as 
bad  as  Gibbs!  You're  still  rich,  and  as  long 
as  you've  got  plenty  of  cash  no  law  in  America 
need  ever  bother  you.  There's  lots  of  talk 
about  indictments,  and  arrests,  and  investiga 
tions,  and  prosecutions,  and  all  that  sort  of 


The  New  Mayor.  231 

rot.  But  I  don't  see  any  millionaires  going  to 
jail!  Come  on  across  to  my  lawyer's." 

The  Boss  and  financier  departed  without  a 
backward  look,  leaving  Phelan  and  Bennett 
alone  on  the  late  scene  of  battle. 

"Say,  Your  Honor,"  observed  the  Alder 
man  slyly,  "there's  one  very  important  en 
gagement  you've  clean  forgot.  Sit  right  where 
you  are  a  minute  and  I'll  send  the  party  in 
here  and  see  that  nobody  butts  in  on  you  till 
you  want  'em  to.  Oh,  but  we  didn't  do  a  thing 
to  Horrigan!  He'll  have  to  watch  which  way 
his  toes  point  to  see  whether  he's  goin'  or  corn- 


in'.' 


The  Alderman  sped  on  his  mission,  leaving 
Alwyn  seated  alone,  dejected,  miserable,  in  the 
deserted  committee  room. 

Now  that  the  crisis  was  past,  his  heart  was 
strangely  heavy.  He  had  won.  But  at  what 
cost  ?  At  the  loss  of  all  he  held  dear. 

Alwyn  Bennett  knew,  too,  that  the  real 
fight  was  but  just  begun — a  fight  that  had 
waged  since  the  world  began  and  must  last  to 
Judgment  Day — the  hopeless,  uphill  battle  of 
Decency  against  Evil;  of  Honesty  against 
Graft. 

Horrigan's  sneering  words,  "I  don't  see  any 
millionaires  going  to  jail,"  stuck  disagreeably 
in  the  young  Mayor's  memory.  Their  brutal, 


232  The  New  Mayor. 

bald  truth  jarred  on  his  belief  in  the  inevitable 
triumph  of  Good.  After  all,  was  the  dreary, 
self-sacrificing  battle  against  an  unconquerable 
foe  worth  while?  Could  the  great  god  Graft 
ever  be  checked  in  his  master  of  the  earth? 


A  rustle  of  skirts  startled  Alwyn  from  his 
dark  thoughts. 

"Dallas!"  he  cried,  unbelieving,  as  he  sprang 
to  his  feet,  half  dazed  at  the  wondrous  light 
that  transformed  her  face. 

Slowly  she  came  toward  him,  her  glorious 
dark  eyes  on  his,  her  white  hands  outstretched 
in  irresistible  appeal.  At  last  she  spoke: 

"I  love  you!"  she  said. 


THE  END. 


RECONCILIATION  OF  BENNETT  AND   DALLAS. 

"i  LOVE  YOU."—  Page  232. 


that  you  are  tired  of  hearing  and  reading  about  the 
Letters  of  this  one  and  that  one,  but  we  desire  to 
call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that 

THE  LETTERS  OF  MILDRED'S  MOTHER  TO  MILDRED 

are  entirely  different  from  any  that  you  have  thus  far 
read.  Mildred  is  a  girl  in  the  chorus  at  one  of  New 
York's  famous  theatres,  and  her  mother  is  a  woman 
who  "travels"  with' a  friend  by  the  name  of  Blanche. 
The  book  is  written  by  E.  D.  Price,  "  The  Man  Behind 
the  Scenes,"  one  well  qualified  to  touch  upon  the 
stage  side  of  life. 

The  following  is  the  Table  of  Contents : 

Mother  Joins   the   Repertoire 


Mother  at  the  Races. 
Mother  at  a  Chicago  Hotel. 
Mother  Goes  Yachting. 
Mother  Escapes  Matrimony. 
Mother   Meets    Nature's 
Noblemen. 


Company. 
Mother  in  the   One   Night 

Stands. 
Mother  and  the  Theatrical 

Angel. 
Mother  Returns  to  Mildred. 


Read  what  Blakely  Hall  says  of  it : 

"  I  don't  know  whether  you  are  aware  of  it  or  not,  but  you 
are  turning  out  wonderful,  accurate  and  convincing  character 
studies  in  the  Mildred's  Mother  articles.  They  are  as  refreshing 
and  invigorating  as  showers  on  the  hottest  July  day." 

j  The  book  is  well  printed  on  fine  laid  paper,  hand- 
Bomely  bound  in  cloth,  with  attractive  side  stamp, 
and  has  already  run  into  its  third  edition.  For  sale 
everywhere,  or  it  will  be  sent  by  mail,  postpaid,  to 
any  address  upon  receipt  of  price,  $1.00.  Address 
all  orders  to 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

57  ROSE  STREET,  NEW  YOE& 


ARE  YOU  IN  LOVE? 


If  So,  You  Should  Order  at  Once 

THE  LOVER'S  COMPANION. 

Compiled  by  CHARLES  NOEL  DOUGLAS. 


The  most  unique,  artistic,  interesting  and  valuable  boo! 
of  its  kind  in  existence.  Everything  the  master  minds  of  all 
ages  have  sung  and  written  concerning  the  divine  passion 
can  be  found  in  this  work,  and  it  is  replete  with  the  most  ex» 
quisite  love  lyrics,  love  ballads,  and  love  poems,  attuned  to 
each  and  every  mood  of  the  human  heart.  It  contains  2,000 
literary  love  gems.  A  veritable  Cupid's  treasury  and  store 
house  of  love,  and  an  indispensable  adjunct  to  every  library, 
desk  and  boudoir,  for  love  is  universal. 

READ  THE  PREFACE  AND  YOU  WILL  UNDERSTAND 
THE  SCOPE  OF  THIS  WONDERFUL  WORK. 

Every  rightly  constructed  being  is  at  some  period  of  exist 
ence  susceptible  to  the  tender  passion.  When  love's  young 
dream  comes  to  youth  or  maid,  the  lovers  in  despair  realize 
how  inadequate  is  the  language  at  their  command  to  express 
the  depths  of  the  consuming  passion  that  is  gnawing  at  their 
hearts. ' 

It  is  at  such  ecstatic  periods  lovers  crave  for  some  work 
that  will  put  them  in  touch  with  all  that  the  world's  great 
men  have  sung,  said,  and  written  in  vaise  or  prose  upon  the 
subject  of  that  divine  passion  which  nas  converted  their 
Whole  beings,  temporarily,  into  a  furnace  of  sighs. 

It  is  to  soothe  the  souls  of  the  love-lorn,  and  to  give  them 
an  entrance  into  the  whole  realm  of  love  literature  that  this 
work  has  been  compiled. 

From  the  sublime  heights  of  love  triumphant  through  the 
Various  degrees  of  jealousy,  fickleness,  partings,  etc.,  to  the 
depths  of  a  love  grown  cold,  every  phase  of  the  human  affec 
tions  has  been  touched  upon,  and  the  choicest  gems  of  the 
world's  love  literature  gathered  into  this  work,  for  the  ser 
vice  and  solace  of  the  heart-hungry  of  both  sexes. 

This  great  book  contains  160  pages  and  is  bound  in  hand* 
some  cloth.  Price,  50  cents.  It  will  be  sent  by  mail,  post 
paid,  to  any  address  on  receipt  of  price.  Address  all  orders  te 

J.  S.  OaiLVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
P.  0.  Box  767.  57  SC3E  SXKEET,  NSW  YOBS 


One  Hundred  and  Fifty 
House  Plans  for  $1.00. 


PALLISER'S 
UP-TO-DATE 
HOUSE  PLANS. 

By  GEORGE  A.  PALLISER. 

We  have  just  published  a  new  book,  with  above 
title,  containing  150  up-to-date  plans  of  houses,  cost 
ing  from  $500  to  $18,000,  which  anyone  thinking  of 
building  a  house  should  have  if  they  wish  to  save 
money  and  also  get  the  latest  and  best  ideas  of  a  practi* 
cal  architect  and  eminent  designer  and  writer  on  com 
mon-sense,  practical  and  convenient  dwelling  houses 
for  industrial  Americans,  homes  for  co-operative 
builders,  investors  and  everybody  desiring  to  build, 
own  or  live  in  Model  Homes  of  low  and  medium  cost. 
These  plans  are  not  old  plans,  but  every  one  is  up- 
to-date  (1906),  and  if  you  are  thinking  of  building  a 
house  you  will  save  many  times  the  cost  of  this  book 
by  getting  it  and  studying  up  the  designs.  We  are 
certain  you  will  find  something  in  it  which  will  suit 
you.  It  also  gives  prices  of  working  plans  at  about 
one-half  the  regular  prices,  and  many  hints  and  helps 
to  all  who  desire  to  build.  160  large  octavo  pages. 
Price,  paper  cover,  $1.00;  bound  in  cloth,  $1.50. 
Sent  by  mail,  postpaid,  to  any  address  on  receipt  of 
price.  Address  all  orders  to 

J.  S.  OGULVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY. 
?.  0.  Box  767,  57  ROSE  STREET,  NEW  YORE. 


DO  YOU  WONDER 

how  ypnr  neighbors  and  friends  can  afford  to  buy  the  things,  do 
,  the  things,  and  wear  the  clothes  that  they  do  ?  Have  you  ever 
'  thought  that  it  might  just  possibly  be  that  they  know  more 

than  you  do?    Don't  imagine  for  an  instant  that  because  you 

are  doing  pretty  well,  that  you  can't  do  better  still,  for  you  can  ; 

but  in  order  to  accomplish  this  you  have  got  to  know  more 

than  you  do  now. 

We  therefore  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the  following 

book,  filled  with  information  you  can  utilize  every  day  in  the 

•week,  no  matter  what  your  occupation  trade,  or  profession. 

YOOSVIAN'S  HOUSEHOLD  GUIDE 

AND 

DICTIONARY  OF  EVERY-DAY  WANTS. 

Containing  20,000  Receipts  for  Every  Department  of  Human 

Effort.     By  A.  E.  YOUflAN,  M.  D.     Royal  Octavo. 

530  Pages.     Price  in  Cloth,  $2.00. 

PRICE,  IN  PAPER  COVER,  REDUCED  TO  $1.00. 


No  book  of  greater  value  was  ever  offered.  The  following 
list  of  trades  and  professions  are  fully  represented,  and  informa 
tion  of  great  value  given  in  each  department : 


Clerks, 

Lumber  Dealers, 

Hardware  Dealers. 

Watchmakers, 

Bookkeepers, 

Miners, 

Engravers, 

Dyers, 

Farmers. 

Opticians, 

Furriers, 

Coopers, 

Htock-raisers, 

Whitewashers, 

Glaziers, 

Coppersmiths, 

Gardeners, 

Soapmakers, 

Grocers, 

Machinists, 

Florists, 

Trappers, 

Hotel  Keepers, 

Curriers, 

Builders, 

Tinsmiths, 

Iron  Workers, 

Doctors, 

Merchants, 

Cabinetmakers, 

Authors, 

Egg  Dealers, 

Druggiste, 

Housekeepers. 

Nurses, 

Electrotypers, 

Photographers, 

Bankers, 

Perfumers, 

Fish  Dealers, 

Architects, 

Barbers, 

Roofers, 

Gas  Burners, 

Artists, 

Inspectors, 

Stereotypers, 

Glove  Cleaners, 

Bakers, 

Bookbinders, 

Tanners, 

Gunsmiths, 

Confectioners, 
Rncrineers, 

Gilders, 
Painters, 

Varnishers, 
Cooks, 

Hucksters, 
Lithographers, 

Flour  Dealers, 

Shoemakers, 

Builders, 

Milliners, 

Glftvss  Workers, 

Clothiers, 

Dairymen, 

Dentists, 

Hair  Dressers, 

Dressmakers, 

Carpenters, 

Plasterers, 

Hatters. 

Dry  Goods  Dealers, 

Carvers, 

Scourers, 

Ink  Makers, 

Brewers, 

Jewelers, 

Tailors. 

We  have  just  issued  a  new  edition  of  this  valuable  book,  siie 
9#  x6j^  inches,  and  \]^  inch  thick,  containing  530  pages,  printed 
on  best  quality  of  antique  laid  paper.  We  will  send  a  copy  by 
mail,  postpaid,  to  any  address,  upon  receipt  of  $1.00  for  the  paper 
bound  edition,  or  $2.00  for  the  cloth  bound  book.  Agents  wanted 
to  whom  we  offer  liberal  terms.  Address  all  orders  to 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY. 
P.  0,  Box  767.  57  BOSS!  STBEET,  NEW  YORK, 


Were  You  Ever 

5ide=Tracked? 


Whether  You  Ever  Were, 
or  Not,  You  Cannot  Fail 
to  Appreciate  .... 

HARRY  L  NEWTON'S 
GREAT  JOKE  BOOK 

ENTITLED 

"SIDE=TRACKED." 

There  is  really  "something  doing"  in  this  joke  book.  Ifc 
has  been  pronounced  IT  with  a  capital  I.  One  hundred  an$ 
twenty  pages  of  clean,  fresh,  bright  humor — not  a  dull  line  I 

Harry  L.  Newton,  the  author,  has  declared  it  to  be  his  master 
piece,  and  his  assertion  is  being  borne  out  daily,  as  our  sales  are 
increasing  very  rapidly.  The  first  edition  of  50  thousand  was 
sold  in  less  than  two  weeks. 

If  you  want  to  laugh  and  grow  fat,  read  «'  Side-Tracked." 
It's  cheaper  than  the  price  of  a  pound  of  meat  and  just  as  satis 
fying.  So  get  busy  boys,  [and  order  a  copy  before  the  other 
fellow  beats  you  to  it. 

"  Side-* Tracked  "  containes  the  greatest  lot  of  slow-train 
stories  ever  in  print.  This  book  is  getting  so  popular  you  sea 
people  reading  it  on  the  streets,  on  the  cars  and  in  barber  shops. 
There  hasn't  been  such  a  run  on  a  joke  book  in  years.  Get  it  t 
Get  it !  Get  it !  Enjoy  it  and  pass  it  along.  Push  it  along. 
It's  a  good  thing.  It  contains  120  pages,  bound  in  paper  corer 
handsomely  illustrated  in  colors,  and  will  be  sent  by  mail,  post 
paid,  to  any  address  upon  receipt  of  25  cents.  Address  all  orders  ttt 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
P.  0.  Box  767.  57  BOSE  STBEET,  NEW  YOBS. 


THE  RIVER. 


•is. 


THE  HOUSE 
ZpTHE  RIVER 


FLORENCE  WARDEN 


By    FLORENCE    WARDEN. 

'The  name  and  fame  of  Miss 
Warden  as  an  author  is  world 
wide,  and  there  are  millions  of 
people  who  remember  with  pleas 
ure  her  absorbing  story  entitled 
"The  House  on  the  Marsh,"  over 
half  a  million  copies  of  which 
were  sold.  The  House  by  the 
River  is  an  interesting,  exciting 
and  absorbing  story  of  mystery 
and  romance,  in  which  the  hero 
ine  is  the  indirect  means  of  bring 
ing  to  justice  a  clique  of  gentle 
manly  criminals.  It  is  written 
with  great  clearness  and  lucidity,  and  holds  the  reader's 
interest  to  the  end,  where  a  remarkable  surprise  occurs. 

WHAT  THE  REVIEWERS  SAY  OF  IT. 

"Florence  Warden  is  the  Anna  Katharine  Greene  of  England. 
She  apparently  has  the  same  marvelous  capacity  as  Mrs.  Rohlfs 
for  concocting  the  most  complicated  plots  and  most  mystifying 
mysteries,  and  serving  them  up  hot  to  her  readers. ' ' — TV.  V.  Globe. 

"The  author  has  a  knack  of  intricate  plot- work  which  will 
keep  an  intelligent  reader  at  her  books,  when  he  would  become 
tired  over  far  better  novels  not  so  strongly  peppered.  For  even 
che  '  wisest  men '  now  and  then  relish  not  only  a  little  non 
sense,  but  as  well  do  they  enjoy  a  thrilling  story  of  mystery. 
And  this  is  one — a  dark,  deep,  awesome,  compelling  if  not  con 
vincing  tale." — Sacramento  Bee. 

"The  interest  of  the  story  is  deep  and  intense,  and  many 
guesses  might  be  made  of  the  outcome,  as  one  reads  along,  with 
out  hitting  on  the  right  one." — Salt  Lake  Tribune. 

SPECIAL  OFFER.— This  book  is  printed  on  best  quality 
laid  book  paper,  and  is  handsomely  bound  in  green  vel 
lum  cloth,  stamped  in  three  colors.  The  regular  price  is 
$1.00,  but  to  the  reader  of  this  advertisement  we  ofler  to 
send  it  by  mail,  postpaid,  upon  receipt  of  only  65  cents. 
Price  in  paper  covers  by  mail,  postpaid,  35  cents. 

Address  all  orders  to 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 
P.  0.  Box  767.  57  ROSE  STREET,  NEW  YORK, 


"Our  Right  To  Love." 

By  ANNA  CHASE  DEPPEN. 

22mo,  275  Pages.   Illustrated.    Cloth  Bound,  $1.00. 

"What  the  Keviewers  say  : 

"After  the  dreary  round  of  problem  novels,  ' studies ic 
realism,'  and  '  historical '  vagaries,  a  story  like  '  Our  Bight  to 
Love,'  by  Anna  Chase  Deppen,  is  like  a  draught  of  sparkling 
spring  water  to  one  sick  of  debauchery.  It  is  like  s-tepping 
into  the  fragrant  purity  of  a  spring  dawn  from  some  mid 
night  revel,  where  glaring  lamplight  and  spattered  wine  lees 
and  the  reek  of  musk  made  a  false  world  of  poisonous  pleas 
ures  and^shrill  laughter,  that  for  a  time  drowned  the  sound 
of  cursing  and  sobbing." 

"  'Our  Right  to  Love.'  Our  right  to  love  simply,  naturally, 
purely,  with  such  a  love  as  perchance  the  angels  in  heaven 
may  envy.  And  yet  the  story  is  not  without  its  darker  side. 
Strong  threads  of  passion  and  of  jealously  are  woven  into  the 
fabric,  even  as  brightness  and  darkness,  happiness  and  sor 
row  are  woven  into  human  life.  It  is  no  flight  of  romantic 
fancy.  No  melodramatic  unreality  disfigures  it.  It  is  a 
drama  of  life ;  such  a  drama  as  any  man  and  woman  might 
live,  and  such  as  many  do  live,  where  the  strong  imperious 
right  to  love  strives  with  evil  influences,  asserting  itself 
against  every  barrier,  and  triumphing  finally  over  all  diffi 
culties  thrown  about  it  by  adverse  fate  or  human  male 
volence." 

"  One  of  the  strongest  characters  is  that  of  Richard  Allen, 
who  rather  than  have  one  breath  of  suspicion  cast  abroad 
about  the  woman  he  truly  loved,  led  to  the  altar  and  wedded 
a  woman  he  had  become  engaged  to  before  he  knew  her  true 
character  and  who  threatened  to  ruin  the  reputation  of  his 
true  love  if  he  did  not  live  up  to  his  engagement.  The  story 
of  love  is  the  most  vital  in  life,  and  has  its  own  force  in  every 
human  heart.  The  book  certainly  possesses  remarkable 
dramatic  possibilities  and  we  would  not  be  surprised  to  see 
'Our  Right  to  Love' dramatized  and  meet  with  unbounded 
success  on  the  stage."— THE  CITIZEN. 

You  can  secure  the  above  book  at  any  news  dealers, 
or  book  store.  Save  this  circular  and  take  it  with 
you  when  you  order 'the  book,  or  enclose  a  $1.00  bill 
in  a  sealed  envelope  and  send  your  order  direct  to 
the  publishers. 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

57  EOSE  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


THE  SOCIABLE  GHOST. 

This  is  a  very  funny  book,  giving  the  adventurer 
of  a  reporter  who  was  invited  by  the  sociable  ghost 
to  a  grand  banquet,  ball,  and  convention  under  the 
ground  of  Old  Trinity  Churchyard.  A  true  tale  of  the 
things  he  saw  and  did  not  see  while  he  was  not  there- 

Written  down  by  OLIVE  HARPER  and  ANOTHER. 

12mo.     235  Pages.     Bound  in  Cloth.     With  14  Full-Page 
Illustrations  by  Thomas  Mcllvalne  and  A.  W.  Schwartz. 

Gruesome  in  spite  of  its  playful  humor,  as  any  tale  dealing 
exclusively  with  skeletons  is  bound  to  be,  this  story  in  which 
a  New  York  reporter  spends  an  evening  with  the  illustrious 
dead  in  Trinity  churchyard,  sets  the  reader  to  thinking  as 
well  as  laughing.  Instead  of  burlesquing  the  departed  dead, 
the  author  intends  to  set  up  a  few  offenses  for  which  mortals 
will  be  punished  in  the  hereafter,  and  at  the  same  time  she 
protests  against  the  removal  of  corpses  from  one  cemetery 
to  another  to  afford  space  for  the  tramp  of  onward  civiliza 
tion. 

The  sociable  ghost,  who  was  formerly  a  society  leader  in 
the  metropolis,  takes  the  curious  reporter  into  the  banquet 
ing  hall  of  the  dead  elite,  where  ghosts,  not  sufficiently  puri 
fied  in  soul  to  go  free  from  the  hindrance  of  bones  and 
burdened  with  their  mundane  characteristics,  dance,  gor 
mandize,  simper  and  gossip  as  they  did  during  life,  waiting 
for  the  passports  the  Master  promises  to  give  when  the  taint 
of  earthly  vices  and  frivolities  have  been  purged.  Particu 
larly  amusing  is  the  passage  in  which  some  sinner  is  com 
pelled  to  teach  five  ladies  of  the  "  400  "  how  to  play  poker,  as 
well  as  the  place  where  the  guests  are  compelled  to  repeat 
for  the  edification  and  amusement  of  each  other  the  terrible 
epitaphs  that  disfigure  their  tombstones. 

This  book  is  for  sale  by  all  dealers  everywhere, 
or  it  will  be  sent  by  mail,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of 
price,  $1.00.  Address  all  orders  to 

J.  S.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

57  EQSS  STEEET,  NEW  YOEK, 


DATE  DUE 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


A     000  766  921     1 


